CND Practice Question: Incident Detection Response And Threat Prediction
An incident handler needs to preserve the evidentiary integrity of a hard drive seized from a compromised web server. Which initial step must be performed immediately upon physical removal of the drive to ensure chain of custody?
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
✓
Document the make, model, serial number, and sign an evidence custody form
Documenting all serial numbers, model details, and completing a proper evidence custody form is vital for maintaining the legal chain of custody.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Calculate an MD5 or SHA-256 cryptographic hash of the raw drive
Why it's wrong here
Hashing is performed during imaging, but immediate documentation and custody tracking precede acquisition.
- ✗
Defragment the partition to speed up future forensic analysis
Why it's wrong here
Defragmentation overwrites deleted file slack space, destroying valuable forensic artifacts.
- ✓
Document the make, model, serial number, and sign an evidence custody form
Why this is correct
Establishing chain of custody begins with accurate physical documentation and secure logging of the evidence transfer.
- ✗
Boot the drive in a live environment to check for rootkits
Why it's wrong here
Booting a compromised drive modifies metadata and risks altering evidence.
About these practice questions
This CND question is part of Courseiva's 323-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed August 2026 · checked against the official EC-Council exam blueprint
This CND practice question is part of Courseiva's free EC-Council 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 CND exam.