CCSP Memory acquisition Practice Question
During a cloud incident response, a security team needs to collect memory from a compromised EC2 instance for forensic analysis. Which method is most appropriate for acquiring a memory dump?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates incorrectly assume that an EBS snapshot captures memory because it includes the swap file. However, the swap file only holds pages swapped out of RAM; active memory contents are not captured. Only live acquisition tools can collect a full memory dump.
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
✓
Use AWS Systems Manager to run a memory acquisition script on the instance.
Memory (RAM) is volatile and not captured by disk snapshots or logs. Collecting a memory dump requires live forensic acquisition while the instance is running. AWS Systems Manager (SSM) allows remote execution of scripts, such as a memory capture tool (e.g., LiME or DumpIt), on the target instance. This method is efficient, forensically sound, and minimizes disruption. CloudTrail logs API calls, not memory. EBS snapshots only capture persistent storage. VPC Flow Logs record network metadata, not memory content. Therefore, D is the correct answer.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Analyze CloudTrail logs for the instance's API calls.
Why it's wrong here
CloudTrail logs do not contain memory contents.
- ✗
Take a snapshot of the EBS volumes attached to the instance.
Why it's wrong here
Snapshots capture disk, not memory; memory is volatile and lost if instance is stopped.
- ✗
Review VPC Flow Logs for network traffic.
Why it's wrong here
Flow logs do not capture memory.
- ✓
Use AWS Systems Manager to run a memory acquisition script on the instance.
Why this is correct
Systems Manager can execute commands to capture memory using tools like LiME.
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
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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.