- A
Place the laptop on a desk until the investigator is available.
Why wrong: Leaving evidence unattended creates gaps in accountability and increases the chance of tampering or dispute later.
- B
Record each transfer with date, time, handler name, and signatures.
Chain of custody requires a documented record of who handled the evidence, when it changed hands, and under what conditions. These records help prove integrity and admissibility later. Accurate transfer documentation is one of the most important parts of evidence handling in a forensic case.
- C
Reset the laptop so the legal team can access it more easily.
Why wrong: Resetting the device destroys data and changes the evidence. That would undermine the investigation and could make the device less useful in court.
- D
Remove the hard drive and connect it to a personal workstation.
Why wrong: Using an unapproved workstation risks altering evidence and breaks proper evidence-handling procedures. Forensic collection should use controlled, documented methods.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to record each transfer with date, time, handler name, and signatures because this practice forms the backbone of chain of custody documentation, which is a legal process that tracks every instance of evidence handling to prove its integrity. Without this meticulous log, any break in the documented possession chain can render evidence inadmissible in court, as opposing counsel could argue tampering or contamination. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this concept tests your understanding of forensic procedures and evidence admissibility, often appearing in scenario-based questions where a single missing signature or unrecorded transfer is the trap. A common memory tip is to think of the chain of custody as a “paper trail handcuff” — every link (transfer) must be locked with a handler’s name, date, time, and signature to keep the evidence secure.
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 company laptop is collected as evidence in a suspected theft case. Which action best supports chain of custody?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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
Record each transfer with date, time, handler name, and signatures.
Option B is correct because chain of custody requires documenting every transfer of evidence with date, time, handler name, and signatures to maintain a verifiable record of who had possession of the laptop at all times. This ensures the evidence is admissible in court by proving it has not been tampered with or altered since collection. Without this documentation, the defense could argue the evidence was compromised, undermining the entire case.
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.
- ✗
Place the laptop on a desk until the investigator is available.
Why it's wrong here
Leaving evidence unattended creates gaps in accountability and increases the chance of tampering or dispute later.
- ✓
Record each transfer with date, time, handler name, and signatures.
Why this is correct
Chain of custody requires a documented record of who handled the evidence, when it changed hands, and under what conditions. These records help prove integrity and admissibility later. Accurate transfer documentation is one of the most important parts of evidence handling in a forensic case.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Reset the laptop so the legal team can access it more easily.
Why it's wrong here
Resetting the device destroys data and changes the evidence. That would undermine the investigation and could make the device less useful in court.
- ✗
Remove the hard drive and connect it to a personal workstation.
Why it's wrong here
Using an unapproved workstation risks altering evidence and breaks proper evidence-handling procedures. Forensic collection should use controlled, documented methods.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the misconception that preserving evidence means making it easier to access (like resetting or removing components), when in fact the priority is maintaining the original state and documenting every touchpoint to ensure legal admissibility.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Chain of custody relies on a documented chronological paper trail that meets legal standards for evidence admissibility, often requiring a form that includes unique evidence identifiers, timestamps, and signatures from each handler. In digital forensics, even a single unaccounted transfer can render evidence inadmissible under rules like the Daubert standard or Federal Rules of Evidence, as the prosecution cannot prove the evidence was not altered. Real-world scenarios, such as corporate theft investigations, often fail because investigators skip documentation when moving evidence between secure storage and analysis labs, leading to case dismissal.
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.
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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: Record each transfer with date, time, handler name, and signatures. — Option B is correct because chain of custody requires documenting every transfer of evidence with date, time, handler name, and signatures to maintain a verifiable record of who had possession of the laptop at all times. This ensures the evidence is admissible in court by proving it has not been tampered with or altered since collection. Without this documentation, the defense could argue the evidence was compromised, undermining the entire case.
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: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
3 more ways this is tested on SY0-701
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. You are handed a company laptop suspected in an insider theft case. Legal says the evidence may be needed in court. Which action best preserves admissibility?
medium- A.Browse the drive directly on the original laptop to identify the most relevant files.
- ✓ B.Create a forensic image using a write blocker and record hash values.
- C.Email the user asking them to return any copies they may have made.
- D.Mount the drive read-write so searching and exporting data will be faster.
Why B: Option B is correct because creating a forensic image with a write blocker ensures the original evidence remains unaltered, preserving its integrity for court admissibility. Recording hash values (e.g., SHA-256) provides a cryptographic fingerprint that can later verify the image is an exact copy, meeting legal standards for chain of custody and authenticity.
Variation 2. A company-owned laptop is suspected in an insider theft case and legal says the evidence may be used in court. Which two actions best support evidence admissibility during transport to the evidence locker? Select two.
medium- ✓ A.Document the chain of custody with the collector, date, time, device condition, and transfer history.
- ✓ B.Place the laptop in a tamper-evident bag or seal and record the seal number.
- C.Browse the user’s files to confirm whether the laptop contains stolen documents.
- D.Remove the hard drive and place it in an unmarked box for convenience.
- E.Let the employee continue using the laptop until legal staff are available.
Why A: Option A is correct because documenting the chain of custody establishes a clear, unbroken record of who handled the evidence, when, and under what conditions. This is critical for admissibility in court, as it demonstrates that the evidence has not been tampered with or altered since collection. Without proper chain-of-custody documentation, the defense could argue that the laptop's integrity was compromised, potentially rendering the evidence inadmissible.
Variation 3. An investigator must collect data from a suspected insider-threat laptop so the evidence could be used in an HR and legal review. Which action best preserves admissibility?
medium- A.Boot the laptop normally and browse the user's files for clues
- ✓ B.Create a forensic image through a write blocker and record hashes before and after acquisition
- C.Copy the user's documents to a USB drive and continue the investigation later
- D.Take screenshots of the desktop and delete the original drive contents afterward
Why B: Option B is correct because creating a forensic image through a write blocker ensures the original evidence is not altered, preserving its integrity for admissibility in HR and legal proceedings. Recording hashes before and after acquisition allows verification that the image is an exact, unmodified copy, which is critical for chain of custody and meeting legal standards such as Daubert or Federal Rules of Evidence.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
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