Incident classification and prioritization are critical steps in effective information security incident management.
Proper classification enables organizations to quickly identify the nature and scope of incidents, while prioritization helps allocate resources and response efforts based on the severity and impact.
By establishing clear techniques and frameworks, organizations can respond more efficiently, minimize damage, and ensure that critical incidents receive immediate attention.
Incident Classification Techniques
Classifying incidents involves categorizing security events based on various attributes to understand their nature and required response. Common classification criteria include:
1. Type of Incident: Categorizes incidents according to the nature of the threat or issue, such as malware infections, unauthorized access, denial of service, insider threats, or physical security breaches.
2. Source of Incident: Differentiates between internal and external origins, such as insider errors versus external cyberattacks.
3. Affected Asset: Specifies the systems, applications, or data involved.
4. Scope and Scale: Determines how many systems or users are impacted, from isolated incidents to wide-scale disruptions.
5. Impact Type: Refers to the specific effect on confidentiality, integrity, availability, or compliance.
Hierarchical classification models are often applied where broad categories are refined into more specific subcategories, allowing for targeted response playbooks.
Incident Prioritization Techniques
Prioritizing incidents depends primarily on two factors: impact and urgency.
Impact: Measures the extent to which the incident affects business operations, including the number of users or systems affected, potential financial losses, and reputational damage.
Urgency: Reflects how quickly the incident must be addressed to prevent escalation or further harm.
Using these factors, organizations often apply a priority matrix that results in priority levels such as:
| Priority Level | Description | Response Expectation |
| High (P1) | Critical impact, immediate response | Immediate action, 24/7 focus |
| Medium (P2) | Moderate impact, timely response | Resolution within the set SLA |
| Low (P3) | Minimal impact, routine response | Address during normal operations |
Additional techniques include risk scoring systems, which assign numeric values to attributes like impact severity, threat likelihood, and detectability, generating a composite risk score that dictates priority.
