Quick Answer
The answer is system log files, along with a list of running processes and network connections, as these three types of evidence are most important to collect from a compromised Linux server during forensic acquisition. This is because Linux forensic evidence collection must follow the order of volatility (RFC 3227), which dictates that volatile data—such as active processes and network states—must be captured first, as they disappear when the system is powered down or rebooted. On the SSCP exam, this principle tests your understanding of incident response procedures and the priority of preserving ephemeral evidence over static disk images, which are less time-sensitive. A common trap is to focus solely on log files or disk images, forgetting that process lists and network connections reveal live malicious activity like reverse shells or cryptominers. Remember the mnemonic “Processes, Network, Logs” to recall the top three volatile evidence types in order of priority.
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.
Which THREE types of evidence are MOST important to collect from a compromised Linux server during forensic acquisition?
List of running processes
Processes show malicious activity.
Full disk image
Why wrong: Disk image is important but not the most volatile; order of volatility dictates memory first.
Network packet captures
Why wrong: Network captures are not always available and less volatile than memory.
Contents of RAM (memory dump)
Memory contains running processes and encryption keys.
System log files
Logs provide timeline and evidence of compromise.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
List of running processes
A is correct because capturing a list of running processes from a compromised Linux server preserves volatile evidence of active malicious processes, such as reverse shells or cryptominers, that would be lost on shutdown. This aligns with the order of volatility (RFC 3227), which prioritizes capturing volatile data like process lists before acquiring less volatile evidence like disk images.
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.
List of running processes
Why this is correct
Processes show malicious activity.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Full disk image
Why it's wrong here
Disk image is important but not the most volatile; order of volatility dictates memory first.
Network packet captures
Why it's wrong here
Network captures are not always available and less volatile than memory.
Contents of RAM (memory dump)
Why this is correct
Memory contains running processes and encryption keys.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
System log files
Why this is correct
Logs provide timeline and evidence of compromise.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often prioritize a full disk image (Option B) as the most critical evidence, overlooking that volatile data (processes, memory, logs) must be collected first to preserve evidence that disappears on shutdown, as per the order of volatility.
Detailed technical explanation
The order of volatility (RFC 3227) dictates that evidence like running processes (via 'ps aux' or 'top'), memory contents (via 'dd' or 'LiME'), and system logs (in /var/log/) must be collected first because they are lost on power-off or reboot. In real-world scenarios, attackers often hide processes using rootkits that modify 'ps' output, making memory analysis (e.g., with Volatility) critical to detect hidden processes via kernel structures like the task list.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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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: List of running processes — A is correct because capturing a list of running processes from a compromised Linux server preserves volatile evidence of active malicious processes, such as reverse shells or cryptominers, that would be lost on shutdown. This aligns with the order of volatility (RFC 3227), which prioritizes capturing volatile data like process lists before acquiring less volatile evidence like disk images.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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