The answer is to create a forensic image of the file server and affected endpoints. After containment and eradication, the next step to support recovery is preserving a bit-for-bit copy of the encrypted systems because recovery actions like restoring from backups or running decryption tools can overwrite critical artifacts, including the ransomware binary, encryption keys, and evidence of the attack vector. On the CISM exam, this tests your understanding of the incident response phase where evidence collection precedes recovery, ensuring root cause analysis and legal admissibility are not compromised. A common trap is to jump directly to data restoration, but the exam emphasizes that forensic imaging must occur before any recovery step to avoid spoliation. Remember the mnemonic: ICE — Isolate, Contain, then Evidence before recovery.
CISM Incident Management Practice Question
This CISM practice question tests your understanding of incident management. 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.
After a ransomware incident, the incident response team contains the spread and begins eradication. The team discovers that the ransomware encrypted files on a file server and also deleted shadow copies. Which of the following should the team do NEXT to support recovery?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create a forensic image of the file server and affected endpoints.
After containment and eradication, the priority is to preserve evidence for root cause analysis and potential legal action. Creating a forensic image of the file server and affected endpoints captures the ransomware artifacts, encryption keys, and system state before any recovery actions that could overwrite critical data. This aligns with the CISM incident management phase of 'lessons learned' and ensures the team can determine the attack vector and prevent recurrence.
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.
✗
Restore the encrypted files from the most recent backup.
Why it's wrong here
Restoring without preserving evidence may destroy forensic artifacts.
✓
Create a forensic image of the file server and affected endpoints.
Why this is correct
Preserving evidence is essential before any recovery actions.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Attempt to decrypt the files using available decryption tools.
Why it's wrong here
Decryption attempts may alter data and hinder investigation.
✗
Notify law enforcement immediately.
Why it's wrong here
Law enforcement notification is important but not the immediate next step for recovery.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume recovery (restoring backups) is the immediate next step, but CISM emphasizes that evidence preservation must precede any recovery action to support forensic analysis and legal proceedings.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Forensic imaging uses tools like FTK Imager or dd to create a bit-for-bit copy of the storage media, including deleted files, slack space, and unallocated clusters that may contain remnants of the ransomware or its configuration. Shadow copies are deleted by ransomware to prevent volume shadow copy (VSS) recovery, so the team must rely on external backups, but only after imaging ensures the attack timeline and lateral movement can be reconstructed via timeline analysis of file system metadata (e.g., MFT entries).
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 practitioner preparing for the CISM exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Incident Management — This question tests Incident Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a forensic image of the file server and affected endpoints. — After containment and eradication, the priority is to preserve evidence for root cause analysis and potential legal action. Creating a forensic image of the file server and affected endpoints captures the ransomware artifacts, encryption keys, and system state before any recovery actions that could overwrite critical data. This aligns with the CISM incident management phase of 'lessons learned' and ensures the team can determine the attack vector and prevent recurrence.
What should I do if I get this CISM question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. After detecting a ransomware infection on a file server, the incident response team performs containment and eradication. Which step should be prioritized during the recovery phase to minimize business impact?
medium
A.Contact the attackers to negotiate a decryption key
B.Reimage all servers in the same network segment
C.Identify and patch the vulnerability used for entry
✓ D.Restore data from verified clean backups
Why D: Restoring data from clean backups is the most direct way to recover operations without paying ransom. Identifying the vulnerability (B) is part of eradication, not recovery. Negotiating with attackers (A) is discouraged. Reimaging all servers (D) may be excessive and cause more downtime.
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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This CISM 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 CISM exam.
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