Which step follows incident detection in the incident response lifecycle?

Following incident detection in the incident response lifecycle, the next step is containment. This step is crucial because, once an incident has been detected, prompt action is required to prevent further damage and limit the impact of the incident on the organization. Containment involves implementing measures to isolate affected systems or data, ensuring that the incident does not spread and cause more extensive harm.

The goal of containment is to stabilize the environment by stopping the incident from escalating. This might include strategies like disconnecting affected systems from the network or restricting access to certain resources. By containing the incident, organizations can protect their assets while focusing on further analysis and recovery efforts.

In an incident response context, analysis typically follows containment, where responders will assess the situation to understand the incident's scope and impact. Recovery would come even later in the lifecycle after containment and analysis have taken place, aiming to restore systems and processes to normal operation. Preparation is the initial phase of the lifecycle that involves planning and readiness activities to enhance the organization's capability to respond to incidents in the future.