(ISC)2 Certified in Cybersecurity Practice Exam

What is the highest priority of a first responder during an incident?

1. Gathering evidence

2. Informing stakeholders

3. Containing the damage

4. Notifying law enforcement

The correct answer is: Containing the damage

The highest priority of a first responder during an incident is to contain the damage. This focus is critical because the immediate goal in any incident response is to prevent further harm to people, systems, or data. By containing the damage, first responders can limit the impact of the incident, ensuring that it does not escalate and that additional resources are not put at risk. Prioritizing damage containment enables first responders to stabilize the situation, allowing other response efforts, such as gathering evidence or notifying law enforcement, to occur afterward without exacerbating the incident. In many cases, if damage is not promptly contained, the situation can worsen significantly, leading to more extensive losses or risks to individuals and organizational assets. While informing stakeholders, gathering evidence, and notifying law enforcement are all important aspects of incident management, they come into play after the immediate threat has been addressed, and the focus is on overarching safety and damage control. Therefore, the containment of damage is paramount among the actions first responders take during an incident.