hardMultiple Choice
SSCP Practice Question: During an incident response, a forensic analyst…
During an incident response, a forensic analyst captures a memory dump from a compromised server. Which of the following is the MOST important step to ensure the integrity of the evidence?
⚠ Common exam trap
SSCP often tests whether candidates confuse disk-imaging controls (write blockers) with memory-capture integrity steps (hashing), or overlook that evidence must never be stored on the compromised host.
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
✓
Create a cryptographic hash of the memory dump before analysis
Creating a cryptographic hash (e.g., SHA-256) of the memory dump immediately after capture establishes a verifiable baseline for integrity. Any subsequent modification — accidental or intentional — will change the hash, allowing the analyst to prove the evidence was not tampered with. This chain-of-custody practice is fundamental to forensic admissibility.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Create a cryptographic hash of the memory dump before analysis
Why this is correct
Hashing the memory dump with a cryptographic algorithm produces a fixed digest that later re-hashing can verify, proving the image was not altered. This preserves evidential integrity, the stem's stated requirement, before any analysis touches the data.
- ✗
Use a write blocker when capturing the memory dump
Why it's wrong here
Write blockers prevent writes to block storage devices during acquisition; they do not govern volatile memory capture, which is performed by tools reading RAM directly. It is tempting because write blockers are standard for disk imaging. Memory acquisition instead relies on hashing the dump and documenting the process.
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Store the memory dump on the same server for easy access
Why it's wrong here
Storing the dump on the compromised host lets an attacker or malware alter or delete it, and the host's own state is untrusted, so chain of custody and integrity cannot be demonstrated. It is tempting because it is convenient and requires no extra media. Isolated, write-once storage is required for forensic evidence.
- ✗
Run antivirus on the memory dump file
Why it's wrong here
Antivirus scans modify or quarantine files and can alter the dump's contents, destroying its evidentiary value and hash integrity. It is tempting because scanning captured artefacts feels like responsible handling. Antivirus belongs on live systems or analysis copies, never on the original evidence file.
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Courseiva writes every SSCP question from scratch — 971 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official ISC2 exam blueprint
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.