Question 1easymultiple choice
Full question →easymultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A laptop is suspected of being compromised, and the responder wants to preserve useful evidence before shutting it down. What should be done first?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Distractor review
Power off the laptop immediately to stop all attacker activity.
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
Best answer
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
Distractor review
Install a new antivirus product before collecting evidence.
Installing software changes the system state and can overwrite important forensic evidence. It is better to preserve the original condition first.
D
Distractor review
Reimage the laptop so the user can return to work quickly.
Reimaging too early destroys evidence and can make root-cause analysis impossible. Recovery should happen after containment and evidence capture.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A laptop is suspected of being used in a malware incident. It is still powered on and connected to Wi-Fi. What should the responder do before shutting it down?
Question 2
An employee reports a ransomware note on a file server. The server is still powered on, shares are still being accessed, and management wants service restored as quickly as possible. What should the incident response team do first?
Question 3
An employee reports a ransomware note on a finance laptop. The laptop is still powered on, connected to Wi-Fi, and the user says they were just working in a spreadsheet. Management wants the fastest safe response that also preserves evidence. What should the responder do first?
Question 4
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?
Question 5
A developer wants to reduce the risk of SQL injection in a new customer search form. Which two changes are the best mitigations? Select two.
Question 6
A branch office uses a flat LAN, and a compromise on one user workstation could spread quickly to finance systems. Management wants finance workstations isolated from general users, but finance staff still need access to a central finance application and network printer. What is the best design change?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
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. — The first step should be to capture volatile data such as memory and running processes if possible. This evidence is lost quickly when the system is powered off or altered. In a suspected compromise, responders balance preservation with containment, but forensics-friendly actions come first when feasible. Capturing volatile evidence helps investigators understand what was running, how the attacker may have gained access, and whether the threat is still active. Why others are wrong: Powering off immediately can erase key volatile evidence. Installing antivirus changes the system state and may overwrite artifacts. Reimaging is a recovery action, not an evidence-preservation step, and doing it too soon can destroy the information needed to investigate the incident properly. The best response is to preserve what is most likely to disappear first.
What should I do if I get this SY0-701 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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