Which of the following is NOT a part of the order of volatility when collecting digital evidence?

The order of volatility is a crucial concept in digital forensics that highlights the importance of collecting evidence based on how quickly it may change or be lost. Generally, items that are more volatile should be collected first to preserve their state.

In this context, network switches refer to devices that manage data traffic in a network, including storing data temporarily in RAM. They can also contain log information that can be lost quickly after a power loss or device reset, making them relatively volatile. However, they typically are not prioritized as a primary source of evidence compared to other forms of data.

On the other hand, optical media, remote logs, and hard drives are typically considered less volatile or more stable forms of evidence in comparison. Optical media can be physically damaged but generally retains data until destroyed. Remote logs may be collected from a server with a more stable configuration, while hard drives also maintain data until formatted or unaffected by power loss in the short term. Therefore, within the context of the order of volatility, network switches are not categorized as the most immediate source of evidence to be preserved, identifying them as less critical in the immediate collection of digital evidence.