Description
In the Governance, Risk Management, and Compliance (GRC) industry, the Incident Lifecycle refers to the systematic process that organizations follow to handle incidents effectively. This lifecycle typically consists of several key stages: identification, containment, eradication, recovery, and lessons learned. Initially, an incident is identified through monitoring tools or user reports. Once detected, the organization must contain the incident to prevent further damage. After containment, the next step is eradication, where the root cause is addressed, and the threat is removed. Following eradication, recovery involves restoring affected systems to normal operations. Finally, a critical review takes place to gather insights from the incident, helping to improve future responses and refine incident management processes. This structured approach helps organizations maintain compliance with regulations, mitigate risks, and protect their assets effectively.
Examples
- A data breach at Target in 2013 followed the incident lifecycle, starting with identification through detection systems, containment by isolating affected servers, and recovery by enhancing security measures.
- The WannaCry ransomware attack in 2017 exemplified the lifecycle as organizations identified the attack's spread, contained the infection, eradicated the malware, and implemented stronger cybersecurity protocols.
Additional Information
- The incident lifecycle is essential for compliance with standards such as ISO 27001 and NIST.
- Effective incident management can significantly reduce the financial and reputational damage to organizations.