In a situation of server compromise, what is the BEST way to preserve non-volatile evidence?

In the context of a server compromise, preserving non-volatile evidence is critical in order to conduct a thorough investigation and potentially recover from the incident. Imaging the hard drive allows for a complete copy of the data, including deleted files, system logs, and other artifacts that can provide insight into the breach. This process captures the full state of the server, which can be analyzed later without risking further alteration of the original evidence.

When imaging a hard drive, it's crucial to use proper forensic techniques to ensure that the integrity of the data is maintained. This typically involves creating a bit-by-bit copy of the hard drive and utilizing write-blockers to prevent any modifications to the original media during the imaging process.

The other options, while relevant in incident response, do not prioritize the preservation of non-volatile evidence as effectively as imaging the hard drive. Documenting the incident provides a valuable record but does not directly preserve evidence. Disconnecting the server from the network helps prevent further compromise but does not capture the state of the evidence. Running forensic analysis tools typically occurs after evidence has been preserved, making it less effective for the initial preservation phase. Thus, imaging the hard drive emerges as the best approach for retaining crucial non-volatile evidence in a secure manner during a