What are the key elements of incident response?

The key elements of incident response encompass a structured framework that ensures organizations can effectively manage and mitigate security incidents. The correct answer includes six crucial phases: preparation, identification, containment, eradication, recovery, and lessons learned.

Preparation involves establishing and maintaining an incident response capability, which includes training staff, establishing protocols, and ensuring that the necessary tools are in place to respond to incidents. Identification focuses on detecting and confirming incidents promptly to assess the situation accurately. Once an incident is identified, containment strategies are implemented to limit the impact on the organization.

Following containment, eradication is the phase where the root cause of the incident is addressed to prevent recurrence. Recovery involves restoring systems and services to normal operations while ensuring any vulnerabilities are patched. Finally, the lessons learned phase is essential for reviewing the incident response process to identify strengths and weaknesses, thereby improving future response efforts.

This comprehensive approach ensures that an organization is not only reactive to incidents but also proactive in its preparation and continuous improvement efforts.