hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
CCSP Practice Question: A cloud security engineer is reviewing incident…
A cloud security engineer is reviewing incident response procedures for a hybrid cloud environment. During a security incident, the team needs to collect forensic evidence from a compromised virtual machine while preserving its state. Which of the following actions should be taken first?
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
✓
Disconnect the virtual machine from the network
The first step in forensic collection is to preserve the state and prevent further compromise. Disconnecting the VM from the network (option C) isolates it, stopping any ongoing malicious activity or data exfiltration. Taking a snapshot (option A) is important but should be done after isolation to preserve the isolated state. Notifying the cloud provider (option B) is a parallel step but not the first technical action. Installing a forensic agent (option D) could alter evidence and should be avoided initially. Therefore, option C is the correct first action.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Take a snapshot of the virtual machine's disk
Why it's wrong here
Snapshot should be taken after isolation to preserve state.
- ✗
Notify the cloud provider
Why it's wrong here
Notification is important but not the first priority.
- ✓
Disconnect the virtual machine from the network
Why this is correct
Isolation prevents ongoing compromise and preserves evidence.
- ✗
Install a forensic agent on the virtual machine
Why it's wrong here
Installing software may modify evidence.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
This CCSP question is part of Courseiva's 964-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CCSP 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 CCSP exam.