What is the first step in an incident response plan for cybersecurity? Learn why identifying and classifying security incidents is critical for effective response—essential for CompTIA Security+ (Plus) SY0-701 exam success.
Table of Contents
Question
A cybersecurity team is implementing an incident response plan. What is the first step in handling a security incident?
A. Identify and classify the incident
B. Erase all affected data
C. Ignore the issue until it repeats
D. Perform a full system restore
E. Immediately shut down the entire network
Answer
A. Identify and classify the incident
Explanation
The first step in incident response is identifying and categorizing the issue to determine the appropriate action.
The first step in handling a security incident is to identify and classify the incident.
According to widely accepted frameworks such as NIST and industry best practices, the incident response process begins with the detection and identification of an incident. This involves monitoring systems, analyzing alerts, and recognizing signs (precursors and indicators) that a security event may have occurred.
Once a potential incident is detected, it must be classified based on its nature, severity, and potential impact on the organization. Accurate classification helps determine the urgency and appropriate response, ensuring resources are allocated effectively and the incident is handled according to its risk level.
Proper identification and classification are foundational because they guide all subsequent steps, such as containment, eradication, recovery, and post-incident review. Skipping this step can lead to mismanaged incidents, wasted resources, or failure to address the root cause.
This process also includes documenting initial findings and notifying relevant stakeholders as per the incident response plan.
The first step in incident response is to detect, identify, and classify the security incident, which enables the team to determine the appropriate actions and response strategy.
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