The answer is the most recent full backup plus the incremental backups from the last 6 hours. This is correct because incremental backups only capture changes made since the last backup—whether that was a full or another incremental—so to reconstruct a file’s state at a specific point in time, you must start with the last full backup as the base and then apply every incremental backup taken between that full backup and the moment of corruption. On the ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity CC exam, this question tests your understanding of the incremental backup restore process and the dependency chain it creates; a common trap is thinking a single incremental backup is enough, but without all intervening increments, the file state is incomplete. Remember the memory tip: “Full first, then every increment in between—skip one, lose the scene.”
ISC2 CC Security Operations Practice Question
This CC practice question tests your understanding of security operations. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 backup strategy includes daily full backups and hourly incremental backups. During a restoration, they discover that a critical file was corrupted 6 hours ago. Which backup set is required for the restoration?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The most recent full backup plus the incremental backups from the last 6 hours.
The correct answer is C because restoring a file that was corrupted 6 hours ago requires the most recent full backup as the base, plus all incremental backups taken in the last 6 hours. Incremental backups only store changes since the last backup (full or incremental), so to reconstruct the file as it existed 6 hours ago, you need the full backup and every incremental backup from that point forward until the corruption time. Without all those increments, the file state cannot be fully reconstructed.
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.
✗
The most recent incremental backup only.
Why it's wrong here
Incremental backups alone are not sufficient without the full backup.
✗
The most recent full backup only.
Why it's wrong here
Full backup alone would restore an older version of the file.
✓
The most recent full backup plus the incremental backups from the last 6 hours.
Why this is correct
Restores the state just before corruption.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The most recent full backup plus all incremental backups since.
Why it's wrong here
Includes increments after corruption, reintroducing the corrupted file.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the misconception that only the most recent incremental backup is needed, or that all increments since the full backup are required, when in fact the correct set is determined by the specific point in time to which you are restoring.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In incremental backup schemes, each incremental backup records only blocks changed since the previous backup (full or incremental). During restoration, the process applies the full backup first, then sequentially applies each incremental backup in chronological order. If the corruption occurred 6 hours ago, you must stop applying increments at the one that captures the state just before that time; including later increments would introduce the corruption or subsequent changes. This is why backup software often allows point-in-time recovery by specifying a timestamp, and the restore engine automatically selects the correct chain of backups.
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 security analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
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: The most recent full backup plus the incremental backups from the last 6 hours. — The correct answer is C because restoring a file that was corrupted 6 hours ago requires the most recent full backup as the base, plus all incremental backups taken in the last 6 hours. Incremental backups only store changes since the last backup (full or incremental), so to reconstruct the file as it existed 6 hours ago, you need the full backup and every incremental backup from that point forward until the corruption time. Without all those increments, the file state cannot be fully reconstructed.
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.
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Question Discussion
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