What is the first step in the incident handling process?

The first step in the incident handling process is preparation. This phase is crucial as it lays the foundation for an effective response to security incidents. During preparation, organizations establish their incident response policies, develop an incident response plan, and train their incident response teams. This proactive approach includes defining roles and responsibilities, conducting risk assessments, and ensuring that necessary tools and resources are in place.

Preparation also involves establishing communication protocols and practicing response scenarios through drills or simulations. By being well-prepared, organizations can respond more rapidly and effectively to incidents, ultimately minimizing damage and recovery time. This foundational work ensures that the organization is not only ready to detect incidents as they occur but also equipped to recover and learn from them, reinforcing the importance of this initial step in the overall incident management lifecycle.