CCOA Incident Detection And Response Practice Question
After an incident, you need to preserve the volatile memory of a compromised machine. What is the correct order of operations according to the Order of Volatility?
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
✓
RAM image first, then disk
Memory (RAM) should be captured before disk storage because memory content is lost as soon as the machine is powered off or rebooted.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Network traffic logs, then RAM
Why it's wrong here
While network logs are volatile, they are usually gathered from external sources, not the host.
- ✗
Disk image first, then RAM
Why it's wrong here
Violates the order of volatility; RAM is more transient.
- ✓
RAM image first, then disk
Why this is correct
RAM is more volatile and must be captured first.
- ✗
Reboot the machine, then image
Why it's wrong here
Rebooting destroys the very data you intend to capture.
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every CCOA question from scratch — 203 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or 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 ISACA exam blueprint
This CCOA practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISACA 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 CCOA exam.