The correct answer is D. Chain of custody process , because chain of custody ensures that evidence collected during an incident response is tracked, preserved, and legally defensible . It documents who collected the evidence, when it was collected, how it was stored, and who accessed it throughout the investigation.
According to the Quentin Docter - CompTIA A+ Complete Study Guide , chain of custody is essential when evidence may be used in disciplinary actions, audits, or legal proceedings. Any gap in documentation can render evidence inadmissible.
The Travis Everett & Andrew Hutz - All-in-One Exam Guide explains that chain of custody provides accountability and prevents claims of evidence tampering. Each transfer of evidence must be logged and verified.
The Mike Meyers / Mark Soper Lab Manual clarifies that while order of volatility determines the sequence of data collection, it does not track ownership or handling. Data integrity best practices ensure evidence is not altered, but they do not provide a record of custody.
Because the question focuses on handling and accountability , the required process is chain of custody , making D the correct answer.

Image deployment is the fastest and most efficient method for installing operating systems on multiple machines. It involves creating a pre-configured image of an OS and deploying it across systems using tools like Windows Deployment Services (WDS) or third-party imaging solutions. This method saves time and ensures consistency across all devices.
A). Physical media is slow and not scalable.
B). Mountable ISOs are useful but still require manual installation.
C). Manual installation is time-consuming and not suitable for large-scale deployment.
Reference:
CompTIA A+ 220-1102 Objective 1.4: Given a scenario, use appropriate Microsoft operating system installation methods.
Study Guide Section: Deployment methods - image deployment, automation

The correct answer is D. SSH . Secure Shell is the best choice because it provides encrypted remote administrative access and is commonly supported across platforms, especially Linux, UNIX, macOS, network devices, and modern Windows systems. Quentin Docter's Complete Study Guide explains that SSH is commonly used for remote access through a text console, encrypts communication between the SSH client and server, and uses TCP port 22. It also supports authentication through public/private key pairs or username and password credentials. The Mike Meyers/Mark Soper material also identifies SSH as the secure modern replacement for Telnet and explains that the entire connection is encrypted to pre vent eavesdropping. VNC is cross-platform, but it is not encrypted by default and often requires plug-ins for encryption. RDP is mainly associated with Windows graphical remote access, and VPN provides secure network connectivity but is not itself a remote maintenance shell or control tool.

The correct answer is C. Switch the NIC settings from manual to automatic, which allows the computer to obtain an IP address dynamically from the DHCP server. When a static IP address is no longer required, reverting the network configuration to DHCP ensures the system integrates properly with the current network design.
According to the Quentin Docter - CompTIA A+ Complete Study Guide, DHCP simplifies network management by automatically assigning IP addresses, subnet masks, gateways, and DNS settings. Leaving a static IP in place can cause address conflicts or connectivity issues, especially when the device is repurposed.
The Travis Everett & Andrew Hutz - All-in-One Exam Guide explains that DHCP reservations are used when a device must always receive the same IP address, which is unnecessary in this scenario. Creating exclusions or manually changing the static IP does not meet the requirement to remove static addressing altogether.
The Mike Meyers / Mark Soper Lab Manual reinforces that switching the NIC to automatic configuration is the correct way to return a system to standard network operation and avoid manual IP management.
Because the static IP is no longer needed, enabling DHCP by setting the NIC to automatic configuration is the correct solution, making C the correct answer.

The correct answer is C. net use, which is the Windows command-line utility used to display, create, and remove mapped network drives and SMB (Server Message Block) connections. When working remotely through command-line interfaces, technicians often rely on net use to quickly verify which network shares are currently connected.
The Quentin Docter - CompTIA A+ Complete Study Guide explains that SMB is the protocol Windows uses for file and printer sharing, and mapped drives are maintained through SMB sessions. The net use command lists all active connections, including the drive letter, remote UNC path, and connection status.
The Travis Everett & Andrew Hutz - All-in-One Exam Guide highlights that net use is especially valuable for remote troubleshooting because it does not require a graphical interface. This makes it ideal when administering multiple systems via command prompt or remote shell.
The Mike Meyers / Mark Soper Lab Manual clarifies that systeminfo displays OS and hardware details, hostname only shows the system name, and nslookup is used for DNS queries. None of those commands provide information about mapped SMB shares.
Since the task is to verify existing SMB mappings, net use is the only command that directly fulfills this requirement, making C the correct answer.