- A
To determine the priority of the incident
Why wrong: Incident priority is determined during detection and analysis.
- B
To ensure that evidence is stored in a secure location
Why wrong: Secure storage is important but not the primary purpose of chain of custody.
- C
To prove that evidence has not been altered or tampered with from collection to presentation
Chain of custody maintains integrity and admissibility.
- D
To identify which forensic tools were used during analysis
Why wrong: Tool identification is separate from chain of custody.
Question 478 of 1,000
SSCP Incident Response and Recovery Practice Question
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 of the following is the PRIMARY purpose of establishing a chain of custody when handling digital evidence?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"primary"Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
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
✓
To prove that evidence has not been altered or tampered with from collection to presentation
The primary purpose of chain of custody is to create a documented, unbroken record of every person who handled the evidence, from collection through presentation in court. This documentation is critical to demonstrate that the digital evidence has not been altered, tampered with, or corrupted, thereby preserving its integrity and admissibility. Without a proper chain of custody, the opposing party can successfully challenge the evidence as unreliable or compromised.
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.
- ✗
To determine the priority of the incident
Why it's wrong here
Incident priority is determined during detection and analysis.
- ✗
To ensure that evidence is stored in a secure location
Why it's wrong here
Secure storage is important but not the primary purpose of chain of custody.
- ✓
To prove that evidence has not been altered or tampered with from collection to presentation
Why this is correct
Chain of custody maintains integrity and admissibility.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
To identify which forensic tools were used during analysis
Why it's wrong here
Tool identification is separate from chain of custody.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the purpose of chain of custody with the purpose of secure storage (Option B), but the exam specifically tests that the primary goal is proving evidence integrity through an unbroken record of custody, not just physical security.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Chain of custody relies on a strict log that includes timestamps, hashes (e.g., SHA-256), and signatures for each transfer of custody, often recorded in a standardized form like the NIST SP 800-86 evidence handling template. In practice, a single missing signature or an unaccounted gap in the log can render the evidence inadmissible under rules like Federal Rule of Evidence 901. For example, if a forensic analyst fails to document a 10-minute period when the hard drive was left unattended, the defense can argue potential tampering, even if no actual alteration occurred.
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.
- →
Incident Response and Recovery — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Incident Response and Recovery practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All SSCP questions
1,000 questions across all exam domains
- →
Systems Security Certified Practitioner SSCP study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
SSCP practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related SSCP practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Access Controls practice questions
Practise SSCP questions linked to Access Controls.
Risk Identification, Monitoring, and Analysis practice questions
Practise SSCP questions linked to Risk Identification, Monitoring, and Analysis.
Incident Response and Recovery practice questions
Practise SSCP questions linked to Incident Response and Recovery.
Security Operations and Administration practice questions
Practise SSCP questions linked to Security Operations and Administration.
Cryptography practice questions
Practise SSCP questions linked to Cryptography.
Network and Communications Security practice questions
Practise SSCP questions linked to Network and Communications Security.
Systems and Application Security practice questions
Practise SSCP questions linked to Systems and Application Security.
Risk Identification, Monitoring and Analysis practice questions
Practise SSCP questions linked to Risk Identification, Monitoring and Analysis.
SSCP fundamentals practice questions
Practise SSCP questions linked to SSCP fundamentals.
SSCP scenario practice questions
Practise SSCP questions linked to SSCP scenario.
SSCP troubleshooting practice questions
Practise SSCP questions linked to SSCP troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free SSCP practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
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: To prove that evidence has not been altered or tampered with from collection to presentation — The primary purpose of chain of custody is to create a documented, unbroken record of every person who handled the evidence, from collection through presentation in court. This documentation is critical to demonstrate that the digital evidence has not been altered, tampered with, or corrupted, thereby preserving its integrity and admissibility. Without a proper chain of custody, the opposing party can successfully challenge the evidence as unreliable or compromised.
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: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
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 →
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.