- A
Storing evidence in a secure, access-controlled location.
Why wrong: Secure storage is important but chain of custody is more critical for admissibility.
- B
Creating forensic images of all affected systems before remediation.
Why wrong: Imaging is important but chain of custody is critical for admissibility.
- C
Encrypting all evidence files to prevent unauthorized access.
Why wrong: Encryption protects confidentiality but not admissibility.
- D
Documenting the chain of custody for all evidence collected.
Chain of custody is the foundation for evidence integrity in court.
Question 182 of 905
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.
An organization's incident response plan requires that evidence be preserved for potential litigation. Which of the following actions is MOST critical to ensure the admissibility of digital evidence?
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
✓
Documenting the chain of custody for all evidence collected.
Admissibility of digital evidence in court hinges on demonstrating that the evidence has not been tampered with from the moment of collection to presentation. The chain of custody is the legally mandated documentation that tracks every person who handled the evidence, the time and date of each transfer, and the purpose of each action. Without a complete and verifiable chain of custody, the opposing counsel can successfully argue that the evidence may have been altered, making it inadmissible regardless of how securely it was stored or imaged.
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.
- ✗
Storing evidence in a secure, access-controlled location.
Why it's wrong here
Secure storage is important but chain of custody is more critical for admissibility.
- ✗
Creating forensic images of all affected systems before remediation.
Why it's wrong here
Imaging is important but chain of custody is critical for admissibility.
- ✗
Encrypting all evidence files to prevent unauthorized access.
Why it's wrong here
Encryption protects confidentiality but not admissibility.
- ✓
Documenting the chain of custody for all evidence collected.
Why this is correct
Chain of custody is the foundation for evidence integrity in court.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse operational best practices (like creating forensic images or securing evidence) with the legal requirement for admissibility, which is fundamentally about proving an unbroken chain of custody through meticulous documentation.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Chain of custody documentation typically includes a detailed log with timestamps, digital signatures (e.g., using a hardware security module or PKI), and cryptographic hashes (e.g., SHA-256) of the evidence at each transfer point. In real-world litigation, a missing or incomplete chain of custody can lead to a Daubert or Frye hearing where the judge excludes the evidence, even if the data itself is pristine. For example, in a data breach case, if a forensic analyst fails to note that a USB drive was left unattended for 10 minutes, the entire image may be ruled inadmissible.
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.
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Incident Management — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CISM question test?
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: Documenting the chain of custody for all evidence collected. — Admissibility of digital evidence in court hinges on demonstrating that the evidence has not been tampered with from the moment of collection to presentation. The chain of custody is the legally mandated documentation that tracks every person who handled the evidence, the time and date of each transfer, and the purpose of each action. Without a complete and verifiable chain of custody, the opposing counsel can successfully argue that the evidence may have been altered, making it inadmissible regardless of how securely it was stored or imaged.
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
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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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