Quick Answer
The answer is the Sunday full backup. This is because differential backups capture all changes made since the last full backup, meaning they are cumulative and require that full backup as a base to be applied correctly. Without first restoring the full backup, the differential data has no foundation to build upon, making the restoration incomplete. On the Systems Security Certified Practitioner SSCP exam, this concept tests your understanding of backup chain dependencies and disaster recovery sequencing, often appearing in scenario-based questions where a specific day’s attack forces you to choose the correct restoration order. A common trap is thinking you can restore the most recent differential backup first, but that will fail without the full backup in place. Memory tip: think of a full backup as the foundation of a house—you cannot add the walls (differentials) until the foundation is set.
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of incident response and recovery. 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.
A company's backup strategy includes weekly full backups and daily differential backups. A ransomware attack occurred on Wednesday, corrupting data. The last full backup was Sunday. Which backup set should be restored first?
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.
Wednesday differential backup
Why wrong: Wednesday's backup may include corrupted data and still requires full backup.
Sunday full backup
Full backup must be restored first as it contains the baseline data.
Monday differential backup
Why wrong: Differential backups require the full backup to be restored first.
Tuesday differential backup
Why wrong: Same as B, requires full backup first.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Sunday full backup
The correct restoration order is to first restore the Sunday full backup, because differential backups contain all changes since the last full backup. Without the full backup as a base, the differential backups cannot be applied. After restoring the full backup, you would then apply the most recent differential backup (Wednesday) to bring the data to the point just before the attack.
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.
Wednesday differential backup
Why it's wrong here
Wednesday's backup may include corrupted data and still requires full backup.
Sunday full backup
Why this is correct
Full backup must be restored first as it contains the baseline data.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Monday differential backup
Why it's wrong here
Differential backups require the full backup to be restored first.
Tuesday differential backup
Why it's wrong here
Same as B, requires full backup first.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse differential backups with incremental backups, mistakenly thinking they need to restore all differentials in order, or they try to restore the most recent differential without the full backup first.
Detailed technical explanation
Differential backups copy all data that has changed since the last full backup, so each successive differential grows in size. In a restore scenario, you must first lay down the full backup, then apply only the latest differential backup (not all differentials) to achieve the most recent recoverable state. This contrasts with incremental backups, where each incremental depends on the previous one and all must be restored in sequence.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A SOC analyst notices unusual lateral movement in the network at 2 AM. The IR playbook dictates: identify and contain (isolate the affected machine), then eradicate (remove the malware), then recover (restore from backup), then document. Skipping containment before eradication risks the attacker regaining access. Questions like this test the sequence and rationale of incident response phases.
What to study next
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FAQ
Incident Response and Recovery — This question tests Incident Response and Recovery — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Sunday full backup — The correct restoration order is to first restore the Sunday full backup, because differential backups contain all changes since the last full backup. Without the full backup as a base, the differential backups cannot be applied. After restoring the full backup, you would then apply the most recent differential backup (Wednesday) to bring the data to the point just before the attack.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "first". 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 25, 2026
This SSCP 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 SSCP exam.
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