ISC2 CC Business Continuity, DR & Incident Response Practice Question
Exhibit
Backup Job: prod_db_2024-01-15 Status: FAILED Reason: Checksum mismatch for file user_data.bak Expected: a1b2c3d4e5f6 Actual: 1a2b3c4d5e6f
Refer to the exhibit. What does this indicate?
⚠ Common exam trap
ISC2 often tests the distinction between backup file corruption and source file modification during backup, trapping candidates who assume any verification failure means the backup is corrupt, when the exhibit's wording or error message explicitly points to a source change.
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
✓
The source file changed during backup
The exhibit shows a backup verification failure where the checksum or hash of the source file does not match the backup copy. This typically occurs when the source file is modified during the backup process (e.g., an open file that is being written to), causing the verification algorithm to detect a mismatch. The correct answer is A because the backup software correctly identifies that the source changed, not that the backup medium or file is corrupt.
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 source file changed during backup
Why this is correct
File modification during backup leads to checksum mismatch.
- ✗
The backup medium has errors
Why it's wrong here
Medium errors typically cause read/write failures, not specific checksum mismatches.
- ✗
The verification algorithm is incorrect
Why it's wrong here
The algorithm (hash) is standard and correct.
- ✗
The backup file is corrupt
Why it's wrong here
Corruption is possible, but the most common cause is a file change during backup.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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