CHFI Evidence Acquisition and Duplication Practice Question
This CHFI practice question tests your understanding of evidence acquisition and duplication. 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.
You are a forensic examiner responding to a data breach incident at a medium-sized company. The incident response team has identified a Windows Server 2019 that may contain evidence of unauthorized access. The server is running and logged in with administrative privileges. The server has 32 GB of RAM, a 1 TB SSD (bitlocker encrypted, but unlocked), and is connected to the corporate network. The server is running several critical business applications, and the IT manager asks you to minimize downtime. You have a forensic workstation with write blockers, a hardware acquisition tool, and various software tools. What is the best course of action to acquire evidence while preserving integrity and minimizing downtime?
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.
Clue: "minimum / minimize"
Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Dump RAM and capture network connections, then create a logical image of the SSD using FTK Imager while the server remains on
Option B is correct because it prioritizes capturing volatile data (RAM and network connections) first, which would be lost on shutdown, then creates a logical image of the unlocked BitLocker SSD while the server remains online to minimize downtime. This approach preserves the integrity of volatile evidence and allows critical business applications to continue running, aligning with the IT manager's request to minimize downtime.
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.
✗
Use a network acquisition tool like Guymager to image the drive over the network
Why it's wrong here
Network acquisition is slow and may miss volatile data.
✓
Dump RAM and capture network connections, then create a logical image of the SSD using FTK Imager while the server remains on
Why this is correct
This preserves volatile data and minimizes downtime.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "best", "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Immediately power off the server, remove the SSD, and image it using a hardware write blocker
Why it's wrong here
This loses volatile data and may cause the drive to lock.
✗
Pull the power cord, remove the SSD, and use a forensic bridge to image the drive
Why it's wrong here
Same as A; also unsafe to remove drive while powered.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
EC-Council often tests the principle of order of volatility and the need to capture volatile data before powering down, leading candidates to mistakenly choose a shutdown-based option (C or D) that destroys critical evidence.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Volatile data acquisition follows the order of volatility (RFC 3227), where RAM and network state are captured first because they are lost on power loss. FTK Imager can create a logical image of an unlocked BitLocker volume while the OS is running by accessing the decrypted volume via the OS's file system driver, preserving the encrypted state of the drive without needing to decrypt the full disk. In real-world incidents, failing to capture RAM can miss active malware, encryption keys, or attacker sessions that are critical for attribution.
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 junior network technician can log in to a core router but cannot reach the enable prompt or configuration mode. The AAA server is authenticating the login — but the authorisation policy only grants privilege level 1, not 15. Authentication (who you are) is working; authorisation (what you can do) is not.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CHFI question in full detail.
Evidence Acquisition and Duplication — This question tests Evidence Acquisition and Duplication — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Dump RAM and capture network connections, then create a logical image of the SSD using FTK Imager while the server remains on — Option B is correct because it prioritizes capturing volatile data (RAM and network connections) first, which would be lost on shutdown, then creates a logical image of the unlocked BitLocker SSD while the server remains online to minimize downtime. This approach preserves the integrity of volatile evidence and allows critical business applications to continue running, aligning with the IT manager's request to minimize downtime.
What should I do if I get this CHFI 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", "minimum / minimize". 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.
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