(ISC)2 Certified in Cybersecurity Practice Exam

What is essential for ensuring an effective incident response capability?

1. Frequent Software Updates

2. Incident Response Team Formation

3. Regular System Backups

4. Prior Planning

The correct answer is: Prior Planning

Prior planning is vital for establishing an effective incident response capability. It involves creating a comprehensive incident response plan that outlines the procedures, roles, and responsibilities in the event of a cybersecurity incident. This plan serves as a critical framework that guides the organization in its response efforts, allowing them to systematically handle incidents, minimize damage, and recover efficiently. Effective prior planning includes training staff, defining communication protocols, establishing escalation procedures, and conducting regular drills and simulations to test the framework. These preparations ensure that everyone knows their role during an incident and that the organization can act swiftly and decisively, which is crucial for mitigating potential threats and reducing recovery time. While frequent software updates, incident response team formation, and regular system backups are important aspects of a broader cybersecurity strategy, they do not encompass the entirety of what's needed for an effective incident response capability. Prior planning ties all these components together, ensuring that they work in unison during an incident. Without a well-defined plan in place, even the most updated systems and trained teams may struggle to respond effectively under pressure.