CompTIA CASP+ Practice Test

What should a security administrator check before responding to a subpoena for email records?

1. The current email system settings.

2. The company backup logs and archives.

3. The security policies in place for email retention.

4. The database integrity for the email server.

The correct answer is: The company backup logs and archives.

The best choice for what a security administrator should check before responding to a subpoena for email records is to assess the company backup logs and archives. This is crucial because a subpoena typically requires the production of specific records, and it is important for the administrators to understand what data is available and easily retrievable. By reviewing the backup logs and archives, the administrator can determine the exact timeframe of the records that can be produced in compliance with the subpoena. This ensures that the response is accurate and adheres to the legal requirements, as it allows for the identification of relevant emails that may have been backed up but are not present on the active email server. Other aspects, such as current email system settings, may provide insights into how emails are managed but would not directly inform the administrator about historical data availability in response to a subpoena. While security policies regarding email retention are relevant, they primarily govern how long emails are stored rather than the immediate capability to produce them when needed. Checking database integrity for the email server could be significant for general security and functionality but does not specifically relate to ensuring the availability of email records in response to legal requests.