- A
Reboot the system to clear malware from memory
Why wrong: Rebooting destroys volatile evidence and should be avoided.
- B
Delete suspicious files to prevent further infection
Why wrong: Deleting files may destroy evidence; containment should be done without deleting evidence.
- C
Perform a full disk image using a write blocker
Why wrong: Disk imaging is for non-volatile data and should be done after volatile collection.
- D
Capture a memory dump using WinPmem
Memory dump captures volatile data from RAM.
- E
Record active network connections
Network connections are volatile and should be captured early.
Question 380 of 1,000
SSCP Incident Response and Recovery Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of incident response and recovery. 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.
A security analyst is responding to a malware incident on a Windows server. Which TWO actions should be taken to properly collect volatile evidence?
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
✓
Capture a memory dump using WinPmem
WinPmem is a dedicated memory acquisition tool that captures the contents of RAM, which contains critical volatile evidence such as running processes, open network connections, and injected code. Since volatile data is lost on power loss or reboot, capturing a memory dump before any other action preserves this evidence for forensic analysis.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Reboot the system to clear malware from memory
Why it's wrong here
Rebooting destroys volatile evidence and should be avoided.
- ✗
Delete suspicious files to prevent further infection
Why it's wrong here
Deleting files may destroy evidence; containment should be done without deleting evidence.
- ✗
Perform a full disk image using a write blocker
Why it's wrong here
Disk imaging is for non-volatile data and should be done after volatile collection.
- ✓
Capture a memory dump using WinPmem
Why this is correct
Memory dump captures volatile data from RAM.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Record active network connections
Why this is correct
Network connections are volatile and should be captured early.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'volatile evidence' with 'non-volatile evidence' and choose disk imaging (Option C) instead of memory capture, or mistakenly think rebooting (Option A) is a safe containment step.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Volatile evidence includes data stored in RAM and ephemeral system state, such as ARP cache entries, active TCP/UDP connections (via netstat), and process listings. WinPmem uses the Windows Memory Device (WMD) driver to read physical memory directly, bypassing the OS's virtual memory manager to ensure a complete and forensically sound capture. In a real-world incident, a memory dump can reveal rootkits that hide processes from user-mode tools, which would be lost if the system is powered off.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Incident Response and Recovery — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Incident Response and Recovery practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All SSCP questions
1,000 questions across all exam domains
- →
Systems Security Certified Practitioner SSCP study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
SSCP practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related SSCP practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Access Controls practice questions
Practise SSCP questions linked to Access Controls.
Risk Identification, Monitoring, and Analysis practice questions
Practise SSCP questions linked to Risk Identification, Monitoring, and Analysis.
Incident Response and Recovery practice questions
Practise SSCP questions linked to Incident Response and Recovery.
Security Operations and Administration practice questions
Practise SSCP questions linked to Security Operations and Administration.
Cryptography practice questions
Practise SSCP questions linked to Cryptography.
Network and Communications Security practice questions
Practise SSCP questions linked to Network and Communications Security.
Systems and Application Security practice questions
Practise SSCP questions linked to Systems and Application Security.
Risk Identification, Monitoring and Analysis practice questions
Practise SSCP questions linked to Risk Identification, Monitoring and Analysis.
SSCP fundamentals practice questions
Practise SSCP questions linked to SSCP fundamentals.
SSCP scenario practice questions
Practise SSCP questions linked to SSCP scenario.
SSCP troubleshooting practice questions
Practise SSCP questions linked to SSCP troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free SSCP practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SSCP question test?
Incident Response and Recovery — This question tests Incident Response and Recovery — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Capture a memory dump using WinPmem — WinPmem is a dedicated memory acquisition tool that captures the contents of RAM, which contains critical volatile evidence such as running processes, open network connections, and injected code. Since volatile data is lost on power loss or reboot, capturing a memory dump before any other action preserves this evidence for forensic analysis.
What should I do if I get this SSCP question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Last reviewed: Jul 4, 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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.