Quick Answer
The correct first step is to use a forensic tool to capture the contents of RAM, because volatile data—including running processes, network connections, and encryption keys—is permanently lost the moment the system loses power. In Windows forensics, capturing RAM before any command-line queries is critical, as even a simple command like `netstat` alters the system state and overwrites evidence in memory. On the CISSP exam, this principle tests your understanding of the order of volatility (OOV), where RAM sits at the top of the preservation hierarchy. A common trap is choosing a command-line tool first, but the exam emphasizes that a dedicated forensic memory acquisition tool (e.g., FTK Imager or WinPmem) must be used to obtain a pristine snapshot of the live system. Remember the mnemonic “RAM before the command” to reinforce that memory capture always precedes any interactive queries.
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of security operations. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 an incident, a forensic analyst needs to preserve volatile data from a live Windows server. Which command should be used first to collect memory and network connection information?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Clue: "which command"
Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
Run ipconfig /all
Why wrong: Not volatile data.
Run tasklist /v
Why wrong: Shows processes but not memory dump.
Use a forensic tool to capture the contents of RAM
Memory is the most volatile data.
Perform a clean shutdown
Why wrong: Shutdown loses volatile data.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Use a forensic tool to capture the contents of RAM
Option C is correct because volatile data, such as the contents of RAM, is lost when the system is powered off. Capturing RAM first preserves critical evidence like running processes, network connections, and encryption keys. Network connection information can be extracted from the memory dump, so a dedicated forensic tool (e.g., FTK Imager, WinPmem) is the priority before any command-line queries that alter system state.
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.
Run ipconfig /all
Why it's wrong here
Not volatile data.
Run tasklist /v
Why it's wrong here
Shows processes but not memory dump.
Use a forensic tool to capture the contents of RAM
Why this is correct
Memory is the most volatile data.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "first", "which command" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Perform a clean shutdown
Why it's wrong here
Shutdown loses volatile data.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often choose ipconfig or tasklist because they are familiar Windows commands, but they fail to recognize that these commands do not capture the most volatile data (RAM) and can alter the system state, violating the order of volatility.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Shows processes but not memory dump.
Detailed technical explanation
Volatile data resides in RAM and includes the current state of the operating system, such as active network sockets (TCP/UDP), running processes, and kernel objects. Forensic tools like WinPmem or DumpIt use a kernel driver to read physical memory without altering the system state, whereas commands like netstat or ipconfig query the system via API calls that can change memory or log activity. In a real-world incident, capturing RAM first ensures that evidence of active network connections (e.g., C2 channels) is preserved before any command execution that might terminate or alter those connections.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A developer is choosing between AES-256 (symmetric) and RSA-2048 (asymmetric) for encrypting a large file that will be sent to a partner. Symmetric encryption is fast but requires key exchange; asymmetric is slower but solves the key distribution problem. A hybrid approach — encrypt the file with AES, encrypt the AES key with RSA — is standard. Questions like this test whether you understand when each approach applies.
What to study next
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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: Use a forensic tool to capture the contents of RAM — Option C is correct because volatile data, such as the contents of RAM, is lost when the system is powered off. Capturing RAM first preserves critical evidence like running processes, network connections, and encryption keys. Network connection information can be extracted from the memory dump, so a dedicated forensic tool (e.g., FTK Imager, WinPmem) is the priority before any command-line queries that alter system state.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "first", "which command". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This CISSP 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 CISSP exam.
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