- A
Power off the laptop immediately to stop all attacker activity.
Why wrong: Immediate power-off can destroy volatile evidence such as running processes, network connections, and memory-resident malware. It may help containment, but not before evidence is considered.
- B
Capture volatile data such as memory and running processes if possible.
Capturing volatile data is the best first step when preserving evidence matters. Memory can contain malware code, encryption keys, active network sessions, and signs of lateral movement that disappear after shutdown. In incident response, responders try to preserve the most time-sensitive evidence before disrupting the system, as long as doing so is safe and approved.
- C
Install a new antivirus product before collecting evidence.
Why wrong: Installing software changes the system state and can overwrite important forensic evidence. It is better to preserve the original condition first.
- D
Reimage the laptop so the user can return to work quickly.
Why wrong: Reimaging too early destroys evidence and can make root-cause analysis impossible. Recovery should happen after containment and evidence capture.
SY0-701 Security Operations Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security operations. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A laptop is suspected of being compromised, and the responder wants to preserve useful evidence before shutting it down. What should be done first?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"first"Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Capture volatile data such as memory and running processes if possible.
Option B is correct because volatile data (e.g., RAM contents, running processes, network connections) is lost when the laptop is powered off. Capturing this data first preserves critical evidence of the attacker's current activity, such as malware in memory or active network connections, which is essential for forensic analysis. This aligns with the forensic principle of order of volatility, where the most volatile data is collected first.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Power off the laptop immediately to stop all attacker activity.
Why it's wrong here
Immediate power-off can destroy volatile evidence such as running processes, network connections, and memory-resident malware. It may help containment, but not before evidence is considered.
- ✓
Capture volatile data such as memory and running processes if possible.
Why this is correct
Capturing volatile data is the best first step when preserving evidence matters. Memory can contain malware code, encryption keys, active network sessions, and signs of lateral movement that disappear after shutdown. In incident response, responders try to preserve the most time-sensitive evidence before disrupting the system, as long as doing so is safe and approved.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Install a new antivirus product before collecting evidence.
Why it's wrong here
Installing software changes the system state and can overwrite important forensic evidence. It is better to preserve the original condition first.
- ✗
Reimage the laptop so the user can return to work quickly.
Why it's wrong here
Reimaging too early destroys evidence and can make root-cause analysis impossible. Recovery should happen after containment and evidence capture.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often think immediate shutdown stops the attack, but CompTIA tests the forensic principle that volatile data must be captured first to preserve evidence that disappears on power loss.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, volatile data resides in RAM and includes process lists, network sockets, ARP cache, and kernel objects. Tools like `memdump` (Linux) or `FTK Imager` (Windows) can capture this data via a live acquisition before shutdown. In real-world scenarios, failing to capture memory can miss rootkits that only exist in RAM or encryption keys that decrypt live data, making the entire investigation blind to the attacker's methods.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A SOC analyst notices unusual lateral movement in the network at 2 AM. The IR playbook dictates: identify and contain (isolate the affected machine), then eradicate (remove the malware), then recover (restore from backup), then document. Skipping containment before eradication risks the attacker regaining access. Questions like this test the sequence and rationale of incident response phases.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
Security Operations — This question tests Security Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Capture volatile data such as memory and running processes if possible. — Option B is correct because volatile data (e.g., RAM contents, running processes, network connections) is lost when the laptop is powered off. Capturing this data first preserves critical evidence of the attacker's current activity, such as malware in memory or active network connections, which is essential for forensic analysis. This aligns with the forensic principle of order of volatility, where the most volatile data is collected first.
What should I do if I get this SY0-701 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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