- A
Turn off the system immediately
Why wrong: Shutdown may lose volatile data; preservation requires proper acquisition.
- B
Copy files to a network share
Why wrong: Copying files changes metadata and may miss deleted files.
- C
Run a checksum on the live system
Why wrong: Running checksum on live system can alter evidence.
- D
Create a forensic image with write blocker and hash
Forensic imaging with hashing ensures original data is unchanged.
Question 291 of 1,000
easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
SSCP Practice Question: A company's incident response plan includes a…
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of sscp exam topics. 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 company's incident response plan includes a step to preserve evidence. Which action BEST ensures the integrity of forensic 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
✓
Create a forensic image with write blocker and hash
Option D is correct because creating a forensic image with a write blocker ensures that the original data is not altered during acquisition, and hashing (e.g., SHA-256) provides a cryptographic integrity check that can later verify the image is an exact bit-for-bit copy. This preserves the chain of custody and admissibility of evidence in legal proceedings.
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.
- ✗
Turn off the system immediately
Why it's wrong here
Shutdown may lose volatile data; preservation requires proper acquisition.
- ✗
Copy files to a network share
Why it's wrong here
Copying files changes metadata and may miss deleted files.
- ✗
Run a checksum on the live system
Why it's wrong here
Running checksum on live system can alter evidence.
- ✓
Create a forensic image with write blocker and hash
Why this is correct
Forensic imaging with hashing ensures original data is unchanged.
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 confuse 'preserving evidence' with 'preserving system availability' or 'quick data capture,' leading them to choose turning off the system or copying files, which actually destroy or alter forensic integrity.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A forensic write blocker operates at the hardware or software level to intercept write commands to the storage device, ensuring read-only access. The hashing algorithm (commonly SHA-256 or MD5) produces a unique digest of the entire disk image; any subsequent change to the image will result in a different hash, proving tampering. In real-world scenarios, failing to use a write blocker has led to evidence being ruled inadmissible in court due to spoliation concerns.
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?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a forensic image with write blocker and hash — Option D is correct because creating a forensic image with a write blocker ensures that the original data is not altered during acquisition, and hashing (e.g., SHA-256) provides a cryptographic integrity check that can later verify the image is an exact bit-for-bit copy. This preserves the chain of custody and admissibility of evidence in legal proceedings.
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.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 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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