Exam SY0-601 topic 1 question 585 discussion

*On Exam, Taken On July 31, 2023*

Take from Darill Gibson Sec+ Book "The order of volatility from most to least volatile is: Cache, RAM, Swap or pagefile, Disk, Attached devices, Network"

The question is from most to least for those who are confusing with A Cache memory is most volatile than memory that's why B is correct.

B, although I believe there should be a comma. It should be cache, (followed by) memory not cache memory.

A and B are correct BUT : B is a 'more correct' answer because its MOST volatile is even more than the A's, and the B's LEAST volatile is even less than the A's.

from bard The correct order of volatility from most to least volatile is A. Memory, temporary filesystems, routing tables, disk, network storage. Memory is the most volatile storage medium. Data in memory is lost when the system is powered off or rebooted. Temporary filesystems are also volatile. Data in temporary filesystems is lost when the system is rebooted or when the application that created the temporary filesystem terminates. Routing tables are volatile in the sense that they are constantly being updated. However, the changes to routing tables are usually made by the operating system or by network management software. Disk is less volatile than memory or temporary filesystems. Data on disk is not lost when the system is powered off or rebooted. However, data on disk can be corrupted or deleted by malware or by human error. Network storage is the least volatile storage medium. Data on network storage is not lost when the system is powered off or rebooted. It is also protected from malware and human error to a greater extent than data on disk.

The IETF and the Order of Volatility The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) released a document titled, Guidelines for Evidence Collection and Archiving. It is also known as RFC 3227. This document explains that the collection of evidence should start with the most volatile item and end with the least volatile item. So, according to the IETF, the Order of Volatility is as follows: Registers, Cache Routing Table, ARP Cache, Process Table, Kernel Statistics, Memory Temporary File Systems Disk Remote Logging and Monitoring Data that is Relevant to the System in Question Physical Configuration, Network Topology Archival Media

Cache memory is the most volatile as it is designed for fast access to frequently used data but gets cleared or overwritten frequently. Temporary filesystems are also highly volatile as they exist in RAM and get cleared upon system shutdown or restart. Disk storage is less volatile as it retains data even when the power is removed, but it can still be overwritten or deleted. Archival media, such as backup tapes or offline storage, is the least volatile as it is intended for long-term data retention and remains stable even when not connected to a powered system.

I choose B