This CC practice question tests your understanding of security operations. Compare every option against the stated constraints before choosing — the best answer satisfies all requirements, not just the most obvious one. 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.
During a forensic investigation, the analyst needs to acquire a memory image from a live Windows system without altering evidence. Which tool is MOST appropriate?
Volatility
Why wrong: Volatility analyzes memory dumps, not acquires.
EnCase
Why wrong: EnCase is primarily for disk analysis.
dd
Why wrong: dd is for disk imaging, not memory.
FTK Imager
FTK Imager can acquire memory live with low footprint.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
FTK Imager
Option C is correct because FTK Imager can acquire memory with minimal impact. Option A is for disk imaging. Option B is a GUI tool but may alter memory. Option D is a volatility framework, not acquisition.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Volatility
Why it's wrong here
Volatility analyzes memory dumps, not acquires.
EnCase
Why it's wrong here
EnCase is primarily for disk analysis.
dd
Why it's wrong here
dd is for disk imaging, not memory.
FTK Imager
Why this is correct
FTK Imager can acquire memory live with low footprint.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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.
What to study next
Identify which CC exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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FAQ
Security Operations — This question tests Security Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: FTK Imager — Option C is correct because FTK Imager can acquire memory with minimal impact. Option A is for disk imaging. Option B is a GUI tool but may alter memory. Option D is a volatility framework, not acquisition.
Identify which CC exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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