- A
To prevent modification of the original evidence
Write blockers ensure that the original drive remains unchanged.
- B
To encrypt the data during transfer
Why wrong: Encryption is separate; write blockers are hardware or software that block write commands.
- C
To speed up the imaging process
Why wrong: Write blockers do not affect speed; they prevent writes.
- D
To verify the hash of the original drive
Why wrong: Hash verification is done separately before and after imaging.
Question 881 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.
During a forensic investigation, an examiner creates a bit-for-bit copy of a hard drive using a write blocker. What is the purpose of using a write blocker?
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
✓
To prevent modification of the original evidence
A write blocker is a hardware or software device that intercepts and blocks any write commands from the forensic workstation to the source drive, ensuring that the original evidence remains unaltered during acquisition. This is critical for maintaining the integrity and admissibility of digital evidence in legal proceedings, as any modification could compromise the chain of custody and forensic soundness.
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.
- ✓
To prevent modification of the original evidence
Why this is correct
Write blockers ensure that the original drive remains unchanged.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
To encrypt the data during transfer
Why it's wrong here
Encryption is separate; write blockers are hardware or software that block write commands.
- ✗
To speed up the imaging process
Why it's wrong here
Write blockers do not affect speed; they prevent writes.
- ✗
To verify the hash of the original drive
Why it's wrong here
Hash verification is done separately before and after imaging.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that write blockers are used for encryption or speed optimization, but the core purpose is strictly write prevention to preserve evidence integrity.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Encryption is separate; write blockers are hardware or software that block write commands.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Write blockers operate at the ATA/SCSI command level, intercepting commands such as WRITE DMA or WRITE SECTORS and returning a success status without actually writing data, while allowing READ commands to pass through. In a real-world scenario, failing to use a write blocker on a live system could cause the operating system to automatically write metadata (e.g., timestamps, directory entries) during the imaging process, altering the evidence and potentially rendering it inadmissible under Daubert or Frye standards.
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.
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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: To prevent modification of the original evidence — A write blocker is a hardware or software device that intercepts and blocks any write commands from the forensic workstation to the source drive, ensuring that the original evidence remains unaltered during acquisition. This is critical for maintaining the integrity and admissibility of digital evidence in legal proceedings, as any modification could compromise the chain of custody and forensic soundness.
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
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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.
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