CISM Incident Management Practice Question
An organization is updating its incident response plan. Which TWO components should be included to ensure effective evidence handling? (Select TWO.)
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
✓
Evidence handling procedures
Evidence handling procedures (B) are essential because they define the step-by-step methods for identifying, collecting, preserving, and documenting digital evidence so it remains admissible and unaltered, covering actions like write-blocking drives and hashing files. Chain of custody forms (E) are equally required because they create the documented, unbroken record of who handled each piece of evidence, when, and for what purpose, which is critical for proving integrity in legal or disciplinary proceedings. Together, B and E directly address the core of evidence handling in an incident response plan. The other options, while useful in a broader IR plan, do not specifically ensure evidence handling: A (incident notification template) supports communication, C (law enforcement contacts) supports escalation, and D (list of acceptable forensic tools) supports tooling choices but does not itself govern evidence integrity or 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.
- ✗
A template for incident notifications
Why it's wrong here
A notification template governs stakeholder communication, not the collection, labelling or retention of forensic artefacts. It is tempting because notifications are a standard incident response plan element, but they belong to the communications phase, whereas evidence handling requires documented custody and preservation procedures.
- ✓
Evidence handling procedures
Why this is correct
Evidence handling procedures define the chain-of-custody steps, packaging methods and documentation required to preserve artefacts during incident response. This directly satisfies the stem's evidence-handling requirement, ensuring collected data remains admissible and unaltered from seizure through analysis, which generic response or communication components cannot guarantee.
- ✗
Contact information for law enforcement
Why it's wrong here
Law enforcement contacts support escalation and reporting, not the preservation, chain-of-custody or forensic imaging that evidence handling demands. It is tempting because engaging authorities is a valid step for criminal incidents, but the stem asks for components ensuring evidence integrity, which this does not provide.
- ✗
A list of acceptable forensic tools
Why it's wrong here
A list of acceptable forensic tools names permitted software but does not itself specify how evidence is collected, preserved or documented. It is tempting because tooling feels central to forensics, and it would be correct when the plan must constrain which utilities analysts may run during evidence acquisition.
- ✓
Chain of custody forms
Why this is correct
Chain of custody forms document who collected, handled and transferred each piece of evidence, with timestamps and signatures. This creates an unbroken, auditable record that preserves evidential integrity and admissibility, directly satisfying the stem's requirement for effective evidence handling within the incident response plan.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.