- A
Placing a legal hold on relevant data
A legal hold prevents destruction of evidence.
- B
Maintaining a documented chain of custody
Chain of custody tracks who handled evidence and when.
- C
Performing analysis directly on original systems
Why wrong: Analysis on original systems can alter evidence; forensic copies should be used.
- D
Using automated tools without validation
Why wrong: Tools must be validated to ensure accuracy and admissibility.
- E
Creating bit-for-bit forensic copies of affected media
Forensic copies preserve the original state for analysis.
Question 660 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.
Which THREE of the following are essential elements of a forensic evidence handling procedure to ensure admissibility in court?
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
✓
Placing a legal hold on relevant data
A legal hold is essential because it suspends the normal data retention and deletion policies, ensuring that potentially relevant evidence is preserved from alteration or destruction. This is a foundational step in the e-discovery process and directly supports the admissibility of evidence by demonstrating that the organization took proactive steps to prevent spoliation.
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.
- ✓
Placing a legal hold on relevant data
Why this is correct
A legal hold prevents destruction of evidence.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Maintaining a documented chain of custody
Why this is correct
Chain of custody tracks who handled evidence and when.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Performing analysis directly on original systems
Why it's wrong here
Analysis on original systems can alter evidence; forensic copies should be used.
- ✗
Using automated tools without validation
Why it's wrong here
Tools must be validated to ensure accuracy and admissibility.
- ✓
Creating bit-for-bit forensic copies of affected media
Why this is correct
Forensic copies preserve the original state for analysis.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that direct analysis on original systems is acceptable, but in forensic procedures, any direct manipulation of original media is prohibited to avoid altering the evidence and compromising its admissibility.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A bit-for-bit forensic copy (often created using tools like dd or FTK Imager) captures every sector of the source media, including unallocated space and slack space, which may contain deleted or hidden evidence. The chain of custody must document every transfer of the evidence with timestamps, signatures, and hash values (e.g., MD5 or SHA-256) to prove that the evidence has not been tampered with from acquisition to courtroom presentation.
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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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: Placing a legal hold on relevant data — A legal hold is essential because it suspends the normal data retention and deletion policies, ensuring that potentially relevant evidence is preserved from alteration or destruction. This is a foundational step in the e-discovery process and directly supports the admissibility of evidence by demonstrating that the organization took proactive steps to prevent spoliation.
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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