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 incident analysis, a forensic examiner finds that the system logs were cleared using a command that writes null bytes. Which artifact is most likely preserved?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Event logs from other systems
Why wrong: Event logs from other systems are not stored on the compromised system.
Prefetch files
Why wrong: Prefetch files may also be cleared or overwritten.
Registry keys
Why wrong: Registry keys could be altered or deleted by the attacker.
Volume shadow copies
Volume Shadow Copies can provide historical snapshots that may contain the original log data.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Volume shadow copies
Volume shadow copies (VSS) are snapshots of the file system at a point in time, stored separately from the active logs. Even if an attacker clears logs by writing null bytes (e.g., using `fsutil` or `wevtutil cl`), VSS may retain a previous version of the logs, making them a critical artifact for forensic recovery.
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.
Event logs from other systems
Why it's wrong here
Event logs from other systems are not stored on the compromised system.
Prefetch files
Why it's wrong here
Prefetch files may also be cleared or overwritten.
Registry keys
Why it's wrong here
Registry keys could be altered or deleted by the attacker.
Volume shadow copies
Why this is correct
Volume Shadow Copies can provide historical snapshots that may contain the original log data.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
ISC2 often tests the misconception that cleared logs are permanently lost, but VSS provides a forensic backup that persists independently of active log deletion.
Detailed technical explanation
Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) creates point-in-time copies of volumes, including the `%SystemRoot%\System32\winevt\Logs` directory. Attackers often overlook VSS, but tools like `vssadmin list shadows` or `wmic shadowcopy` can enumerate them. In real-world incidents, examiners mount these shadow copies to extract cleared logs, even if the active logs were zeroed out with commands like `wevtutil cl System`.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A developer is choosing between AES-256 (symmetric) and RSA-2048 (asymmetric) for encrypting a large file that will be sent to a partner. Symmetric encryption is fast but requires key exchange; asymmetric is slower but solves the key distribution problem. A hybrid approach — encrypt the file with AES, encrypt the AES key with RSA — is standard. Questions like this test whether you understand when each approach applies.
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: Volume shadow copies — Volume shadow copies (VSS) are snapshots of the file system at a point in time, stored separately from the active logs. Even if an attacker clears logs by writing null bytes (e.g., using `fsutil` or `wevtutil cl`), VSS may retain a previous version of the logs, making them a critical artifact for forensic recovery.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 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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