The answer is chain of custody, because the responder’s use of a personal USB drive to copy log files introduces an unverified and uncontrolled storage medium, breaking the documented record that must track every seizure, transfer, and analysis of evidence. This violation makes it impossible to prove the evidence was not tampered with or contaminated, directly undermining the forensic principle that evidence must be preserved in a verifiable, unbroken chain for potential legal action. On the ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity CC exam, this question tests your understanding of incident response procedures and the legal admissibility of digital evidence; a common trap is confusing chain of custody with data integrity or confidentiality, but the key distinction is the documented control over the evidence’s location and handling. Remember the memory tip: “If you can’t trace it, you can’t trust it” — every transfer must be logged and every storage medium must be approved and verified.
ISC2 CC Security Operations Practice Question
This CC practice question tests your understanding of security operations. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.
A company's security policy requires that all incident response activities be logged and that evidence be preserved for potential legal action. During an incident, a responder mistakenly uses a personal USB drive to copy log files. Which principle of forensic evidence handling has been violated?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Chain of custody
The chain of custody is a documented record that tracks the seizure, control, transfer, analysis, and disposition of evidence. By using a personal USB drive to copy log files, the responder introduces an unverified and uncontrolled storage medium, breaking the documented chain and making it impossible to prove that the evidence was not tampered with or contaminated. This directly violates the requirement to preserve evidence for potential legal action.
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.
✗
Integrity
Why it's wrong here
While integrity may be compromised, the core procedural violation is chain of custody.
✓
Chain of custody
Why this is correct
Using unapproved media and not documenting the transfer violates chain of custody.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Availability
Why it's wrong here
Availability is not directly affected; the evidence is still accessible.
✗
Confidentiality
Why it's wrong here
Confidentiality is about protecting sensitive information, but the primary violation here is the chain of custody.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the distinction between chain of custody and integrity by presenting a scenario where evidence is copied to an unauthorized device, leading candidates to mistakenly choose 'Integrity' because they focus on potential data alteration rather than the lack of documented control over the evidence.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Chain of custody is formally documented using a form that includes timestamps, signatures, and descriptions of each transfer of evidence, often referencing standards like ISO/IEC 27037 or NIST SP 800-86. In a real-world scenario, if this case went to court, the defense could argue that the evidence was not properly controlled, leading to its inadmissibility under rules like the Daubert standard or Federal Rule of Evidence 901. The use of a personal USB drive introduces an unverified hash value and an uncontrolled storage environment, making it impossible to prove that the logs were not modified after collection.
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 SOC analyst notices unusual lateral movement in the network at 2 AM. The IR playbook dictates: identify and contain (isolate the affected machine), then eradicate (remove the malware), then recover (restore from backup), then document. Skipping containment before eradication risks the attacker regaining access. Questions like this test the sequence and rationale of incident response phases.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CC question in full detail.
Security Operations — This question tests Security Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Chain of custody — The chain of custody is a documented record that tracks the seizure, control, transfer, analysis, and disposition of evidence. By using a personal USB drive to copy log files, the responder introduces an unverified and uncontrolled storage medium, breaking the documented chain and making it impossible to prove that the evidence was not tampered with or contaminated. This directly violates the requirement to preserve evidence for potential legal action.
What should I do if I get this CC 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 →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
This CC practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 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 CC exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.