The correct answer is to seal the device in an evidence bag and record each handoff with signatures. This is the best action because proper chain of custody evidence handling for a laptop requires both physical integrity and a documented audit trail; sealing the device prevents tampering, while signed handoffs create an unbroken record of every person who controlled the evidence. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this concept tests your understanding of forensic procedures and legal admissibility, often appearing in scenario-based questions where a common trap is to choose simply “label the device” or “take a photo” without securing it. Remember that chain of custody is about both containment and documentation—think of it as “bag it, tag it, and sign for every leg of the trip.” A useful mnemonic is “Seal and Sign” to lock in the two critical steps.
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.
Security receives a company-owned laptop connected to an insider theft investigation. Before the device is transported to the evidence locker, what is the BEST action to support 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 the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Seal the device in an evidence bag and record each handoff with signatures
Option B is correct because sealing the device in an evidence bag and recording each handoff with signatures establishes a documented, unbroken chain of custody. This ensures the integrity of the evidence by preventing tampering and providing a verifiable record of who handled the device and when, which is critical for admissibility in legal proceedings.
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.
✗
Factory reset the laptop so investigators can start from a clean system
Why it's wrong here
A reset destroys potentially valuable evidence and breaks the integrity of the original device state.
✓
Seal the device in an evidence bag and record each handoff with signatures
Why this is correct
Sealing and documented handoffs create a defensible custody record and reduce the chance of tampering.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Remove the hard drive and image it without any documentation
Why it's wrong here
Imaging may be useful, but undocumented handling weakens evidence integrity and chain-of-custody reliability.
✗
Leave the laptop unlocked so the next analyst can inspect it quickly
Why it's wrong here
An unlocked device is vulnerable to tampering and does not preserve a trustworthy evidence trail.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think a factory reset (Option A) helps investigators start clean, but it actually destroys evidence, while proper sealing and documentation (Option B) is the only method that preserves evidence integrity for legal proceedings.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Chain of custody relies on a documented chronological paper trail that includes every transfer of evidence, with signatures, timestamps, and a description of the evidence's condition. In forensic practice, this often involves using tamper-evident bags with unique seals and a custody form that tracks the evidence from seizure to courtroom presentation, following standards like ISO/IEC 27037. A real-world scenario where this matters is when a defense attorney challenges evidence handling; without proper documentation, the evidence may be excluded under the Daubert standard or similar rules of evidence.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this SY0-701 question in full detail.
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: Seal the device in an evidence bag and record each handoff with signatures — Option B is correct because sealing the device in an evidence bag and recording each handoff with signatures establishes a documented, unbroken chain of custody. This ensures the integrity of the evidence by preventing tampering and providing a verifiable record of who handled the device and when, which is critical for admissibility in legal proceedings.
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 →
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. Security receives a company laptop used in an insider theft investigation. A manager wants the device moved to another office for review by legal staff. Which action best supports chain of custody?
medium
A.Power on the laptop to confirm the user profile and recent activity before transport.
✓ B.Place it in a labeled evidence bag, record the collector, time, location, and condition, and require signatures for each transfer.
C.Remove the drive and clone it without documenting the collection process.
D.Email a photo of the laptop to legal and leave the original on a desk.
Why B: Option B is correct because it follows the formal chain of custody process required for evidence handling. Placing the laptop in a labeled evidence bag with documented collector, time, location, and condition, along with requiring signatures for each transfer, ensures the integrity and admissibility of evidence by creating an unbroken audit trail. This aligns with NIST SP 800-86 and forensic best practices for maintaining custody of digital evidence.
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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This SY0-701 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SY0-701 exam.
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