Preservation of evidence is a critical aspect of a cybersecurity investigation to maintain the integrity and admissibility of collected evidence. Utilizing forensic imaging tools allows investigators to create exact copies or replicas of storage devices, preserving the original content without modification. These copies can then be used for analysis, ensuring that the original evidence is not altered or tampered with during the investigation process.

Confidentiality is one of the key ethical principles for cybersecurity professionals. It requires professionals to respect the privacy of individuals and organizations by keeping sensitive information secure and not disclosing it without proper authorization. This helps build trust and ensures the protection of confidential data.

An attack vector refers to the pathway or means by which an attacker can carry out a successful exploit or gain unauthorized access to a system. It can be a network protocol, software vulnerability, social engineering technique, malicious email attachment, or any other method that allows an attacker to exploit vulnerabilities. Understanding attack vectors is crucial for implementing effective defenses and mitigating risks.

Preserving digital evidence involves creating an exact copy of the original evidence to be used for analysis. This ensures that the original evidence remains intact and uncontaminated, while allowing investigators to work with a replicated version. It is crucial to prevent any modifications to the original evidence, as any changes can compromise the accuracy and integrity of the investigation.

An intrusion prevention system (IPS) is an active vulnerability mitigation technique that sits in-line with network traffic and actively monitors for and blocks suspicious or malicious activities. It helps to prevent potential vulnerabilities from being exploited by detecting and blocking malicious network traffic.