- A
Immediately power off the workstation to stop any malicious activity.
Why wrong: Powering off too soon can erase memory contents, active connections, and running-process information. That may remove evidence needed for response and forensics.
- B
Capture memory and note running processes before taking further action.
Volatile data such as memory, active network connections, and running processes can disappear if the system is powered down. Capturing that information first preserves evidence that may show malware behavior, injected code, or command-and-control activity. This is a core incident-response practice when the system is still live.
- C
Run a full antivirus scan before documenting anything.
Why wrong: A scan may change the system state and can quarantine or delete evidence. Preservation should come first when the machine is live and suspicious.
- D
Delete temporary files to reduce the chance of reinfection.
Why wrong: Deleting files alters evidence and can remove artifacts that investigators need. Cleanup actions should wait until after preservation and proper containment steps are completed.
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 workstation is suspected of malware infection, and it is still powered on and connected to the network. Which action best preserves volatile evidence before the system is shut down?
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
Capture memory and note running processes before taking further action.
Option B is correct because volatile evidence, such as the contents of RAM (running processes, network connections, open files), is lost when the system is powered off. Capturing a memory dump and recording running processes preserves this critical data for forensic analysis, allowing investigators to identify malware artifacts (e.g., injected code, hidden processes) that exist only in memory. This aligns with the NIST SP 800-86 forensic procedure of prioritizing volatile data collection before system shutdown.
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.
- ✗
Immediately power off the workstation to stop any malicious activity.
Why it's wrong here
Powering off too soon can erase memory contents, active connections, and running-process information. That may remove evidence needed for response and forensics.
- ✓
Capture memory and note running processes before taking further action.
Why this is correct
Volatile data such as memory, active network connections, and running processes can disappear if the system is powered down. Capturing that information first preserves evidence that may show malware behavior, injected code, or command-and-control activity. This is a core incident-response practice when the system is still live.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Run a full antivirus scan before documenting anything.
Why it's wrong here
A scan may change the system state and can quarantine or delete evidence. Preservation should come first when the machine is live and suspicious.
- ✗
Delete temporary files to reduce the chance of reinfection.
Why it's wrong here
Deleting files alters evidence and can remove artifacts that investigators need. Cleanup actions should wait until after preservation and proper containment steps are completed.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the misconception that immediate shutdown stops malware activity, but the trap here is that volatile evidence is lost on power-off, and the correct forensic priority is to capture memory and process data first.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, volatile data collection typically uses tools like `memdump` (via FTK Imager or WinPmem) to capture the full physical memory, while `netstat -ano` or `tasklist /v` records active network connections and processes. In a real-world incident, a rootkit may hide its process from `tasklist` but still be visible in a raw memory dump, making memory acquisition critical. The order of volatility (RFC 3227) dictates that memory, network state, and process tables must be captured before any non-volatile storage is accessed.
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 security team runs a vulnerability scan on a web application and discovers an unpatched SQL injection flaw. The team prioritises remediation by CVSS score — critical flaws are patched within 24 hours, high within 7 days. Questions like this test whether you understand vulnerability management processes, scanning tools, and remediation prioritisation.
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: Capture memory and note running processes before taking further action. — Option B is correct because volatile evidence, such as the contents of RAM (running processes, network connections, open files), is lost when the system is powered off. Capturing a memory dump and recording running processes preserves this critical data for forensic analysis, allowing investigators to identify malware artifacts (e.g., injected code, hidden processes) that exist only in memory. This aligns with the NIST SP 800-86 forensic procedure of prioritizing volatile data collection before system shutdown.
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
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
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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