- A
System event logs
Why wrong: Event logs are stored on disk and are less volatile; they can be collected later.
- B
Hard drive image
Why wrong: Hard drive is less volatile; should be collected after memory and network state.
- C
Network connections and open ports
Current network state is volatile and can change rapidly.
- D
Contents of RAM (memory dump)
Most volatile; contains running processes, network connections, encryption keys.
- E
List of running processes
Processes are in memory and can be terminated; capturing them early is important.
Question 191 of 1,000
Order of Volatility: Collecting Evidence in Correct Sequence
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.
A forensic investigator is collecting evidence from a compromised Windows server. According to the order of volatility, which THREE pieces of evidence should be collected FIRST? (Select THREE)
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"first"Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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
✓
Network connections and open ports
Network connections and open ports (C) are highly volatile because they can change rapidly and are lost when the system is disconnected from the network. Capturing this data first preserves evidence of active remote connections, which is critical for identifying the attacker's point of entry and ongoing malicious activity. Tools like netstat -anob or CurrPorts can be used to collect this information before any other forensic steps.
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.
- ✗
System event logs
Why it's wrong here
Event logs are stored on disk and are less volatile; they can be collected later.
- ✗
Hard drive image
Why it's wrong here
Hard drive is less volatile; should be collected after memory and network state.
- ✓
Network connections and open ports
Why this is correct
Current network state is volatile and can change rapidly.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Contents of RAM (memory dump)
Why this is correct
Most volatile; contains running processes, network connections, encryption keys.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
List of running processes
Why this is correct
Processes are in memory and can be terminated; capturing them early is important.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 SSCP often tests the misconception that event logs are volatile because they are 'system state' data, but logs are written to disk and persist; the trap is confusing 'important' with 'volatile'.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The order of volatility follows the principle that data in CPU registers and cache is most volatile, followed by RAM, then network state, then disk. In practice, capturing a memory dump (D) first preserves running processes, open handles, and decrypted data that would be lost on shutdown. The list of running processes (E) is often extracted from the memory dump itself, but if collected separately via tasklist or PowerShell, it must be done before any system changes occur.
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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Incident Response and Recovery — study guide chapter
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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: Network connections and open ports — Network connections and open ports (C) are highly volatile because they can change rapidly and are lost when the system is disconnected from the network. Capturing this data first preserves evidence of active remote connections, which is critical for identifying the attacker's point of entry and ongoing malicious activity. Tools like netstat -anob or CurrPorts can be used to collect this information before any other forensic steps.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
4 more ways this is tested on SSCP
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. During a forensic investigation, a responder must collect evidence from a live Windows system. Which of the following represents the correct order for collecting volatile data?
hard- A.Disk image, memory dump, process list, network connections
- ✓ B.Memory dump, network connections, process list, disk image
- C.Process list, memory dump, disk image, network connections
- D.Network connections, memory dump, process list, disk image
Why B: Option B is correct because volatile data must be collected in order of decreasing volatility to avoid losing critical evidence. Memory (RAM) is the most volatile, followed by network connections and process lists (which change rapidly), and finally disk images (persistent storage). This order ensures that transient data is captured before it disappears.
Variation 2. An incident responder is collecting volatile evidence from a compromised Linux server. Which TWO of the following should be collected first? (Select two.)
medium- A.Disk image of the system drive
- B.System log files from /var/log
- C.Hardware configuration inventory
- ✓ D.List of active network connections using netstat
- ✓ E.Contents of RAM using LiME
Why D: In incident response, volatile data is data that will be lost when the system is powered off. Active network connections (captured via netstat) and the contents of RAM (captured via LiME) are the most volatile, as they change constantly and are lost immediately upon shutdown. Collecting these first preserves critical evidence of current attacker activity and in-memory artifacts like rootkits or encryption keys.
Variation 3. An incident responder is collecting evidence from a compromised server. Which of the following is the correct order for collecting volatile data?
medium- A.Network connections, memory dump, disk image
- B.Disk image, network connections, memory dump
- ✓ C.Memory dump, network connections, disk image
- D.Disk image, memory dump, network connections
Why C: Option C is correct because volatile data must be collected in order of decreasing volatility: memory (RAM) is most volatile and lost on power loss, followed by network connections (ephemeral state), and finally disk image (persistent storage). This order ensures critical evidence like running processes, encryption keys, and active network sessions are captured before they disappear.
Variation 4. Which of the following is the FIRST step in the volatile evidence collection order when responding to an incident on a live system?
easy- ✓ A.Capture a RAM dump using a tool like Magnet RAM Capture or WinPmem
- B.Disconnect the system from the network
- C.Run antivirus scans to identify malware
- D.Create a forensic image of the hard drive
Why A: Volatile evidence is collected starting with the most volatile (memory) to preserve data that can be lost when the system is powered down. RAM dump must be done first.
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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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