- A
The original hard drive was used directly for analysis to avoid delays.
Why wrong: Analysis must be performed on a copy; using the original risks alteration and spoliation.
- B
A write blocker was used when creating a forensic image of the disk.
Write blockers prevent any accidental writes to the original evidence during imaging.
- C
MD5 hashes were computed only after the analysis was complete.
Why wrong: Hashes must be computed before and after analysis to verify integrity; after-only cannot prove no change occurred.
- D
The forensic image was verified by comparing its hash to the hash of the original disk.
Hash verification confirms the image is an exact bit-for-bit copy of the original.
- E
Each person who handled the evidence documented their name, date, time, and purpose.
This creates an unbroken chain that shows who had custody and why.
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 post-incident review of a data breach, the incident response team is evaluating the chain of custody for forensic evidence. Which THREE practices demonstrate proper evidence handling? (Choose three.)
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
A write blocker was used when creating a forensic image of the disk.
Option B is correct because a write blocker is a hardware or software device that prevents any write operations to the original evidence drive during forensic imaging. This ensures the integrity of the original evidence by blocking all commands that could modify data, such as write, erase, or format commands, while allowing read-only access for creating a bit-for-bit copy.
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.
- ✗
The original hard drive was used directly for analysis to avoid delays.
Why it's wrong here
Analysis must be performed on a copy; using the original risks alteration and spoliation.
- ✓
A write blocker was used when creating a forensic image of the disk.
Why this is correct
Write blockers prevent any accidental writes to the original evidence during imaging.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
MD5 hashes were computed only after the analysis was complete.
Why it's wrong here
Hashes must be computed before and after analysis to verify integrity; after-only cannot prove no change occurred.
- ✓
The forensic image was verified by comparing its hash to the hash of the original disk.
Why this is correct
Hash verification confirms the image is an exact bit-for-bit copy of the original.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Each person who handled the evidence documented their name, date, time, and purpose.
Why this is correct
This creates an unbroken chain that shows who had custody and why.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that hashing can be done at any point during the investigation, but the trap is that integrity verification must occur before analysis begins to establish a baseline, not after the fact.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Forensic imaging typically uses tools like dd or FTK Imager with a hardware write blocker (e.g., Tableau or WiebeTech) that intercepts ATA/SCSI commands at the bus level, allowing only READ commands to pass. The hash verification process (e.g., MD5 or SHA-256) is performed immediately after imaging to create a digital fingerprint of both the original disk and the image; if the hashes match, the image is an exact replica. In real-world scenarios, failure to use a write blocker can result in metadata changes (e.g., last access timestamps) that destroy the chain of custody and make evidence inadmissible under Daubert 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: A write blocker was used when creating a forensic image of the disk. — Option B is correct because a write blocker is a hardware or software device that prevents any write operations to the original evidence drive during forensic imaging. This ensures the integrity of the original evidence by blocking all commands that could modify data, such as write, erase, or format commands, while allowing read-only access for creating a bit-for-bit copy.
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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