Incident Validation and Initial Assessment Techniques

Lesson 17/35 | Study Time: 15 Min

Course: ISO 27035 Information Security Incident Manager Course

Incident validation and initial assessment are critical early steps in the incident response process designed to confirm whether a detected event constitutes a genuine security incident and to understand its scope and severity.

Validating incidents promptly ensures resources are allocated efficiently, preventing unnecessary actions for false alarms while prioritizing genuine threats.

A systematic approach, combining evidence collection, log analysis, and the use of detection tools, supports informed decision-making and effective response planning.

Incident Validation Techniques

The validation phase involves verifying the security event using multiple techniques to ascertain its legitimacy:

1. Evidence Collection: Gather all relevant data such as system logs, network traffic captures, user reports, alert notifications, and any artifacts associated with the suspicious activity.

2. Log Analysis: Examine collected logs to identify unusual patterns, error messages, or unauthorized access attempts that corroborate the event. Tools like SIEMs aid in correlating these logs for better context.

3. Use of Detection Tools: Deploy intrusion detection systems (IDS), endpoint detection and response (EDR), and behavioral analytics to discover indicators of compromise (IOCs) and confirm the incident.

4. Cross-Validation: Compare the event against threat intelligence feeds and known attack signatures to increase confidence in detection accuracy.

5. User and System Interviews: Engage with affected users or administrators to gather firsthand information about the incident’s manifestation and impact.

Initial Assessment Techniques

Once validated, an initial assessment evaluates the incident’s characteristics to guide response prioritization:

1. Scope Determination: Identify which systems, networks, or data are impacted and estimate the breadth of the incident.

2. Severity Assessment: Evaluate the potential damage to confidentiality, integrity, availability, business operations, and compliance posture.

3. Threat Vector Identification: Understand the exploit method or attack path, such as phishing, malware, or insider action.

4. Urgency and Impact Analysis: Gauge how quickly the incident must be addressed to prevent escalation or data loss.

5. Resource Needs Estimation: Determine the personnel, technical, and external support required for containment and eradication.

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Scott Hamilton

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Class Sessions

1- Definition and Significance of Information Security Incidents 2- Types of Security Incidents and Threat Landscape Overview 3- Incident Management Objectives and Benefits 4- Overview of Relevant Standards: ISO/IEC 27035 and Alignment with ISO/IEC 27001 5- Roles and Responsibilities of an Information Security Incident Manager 6- Incident Management Lifecycle Phases 7- Developing and Implementing Incident Management Policies and Procedures 8- Establishing Governance and Organizational Support 9- Incident Classification and Prioritization Techniques 10- Stakeholder Identification and Communication Planning 11- Building an Incident Response Team and Defining Roles 12- Tools, Technologies, and Resources for Incident Management 13- Incident Readiness: Training, Awareness, and Simulation Exercises 14- Establishing Incident Detection and Reporting Mechanisms 15- Coordination with External Entities (Law Enforcement, Vendors, CERTs) 16- Methods and Technologies for Incident Detection and Monitoring (SIEM, IDS/IPS, Logs) 17- Incident Validation and Initial Assessment Techniques 18- Root Cause Analysis and Forensic Considerations 19- Documentation and Evidence Handling Procedures 20- Escalation Processes and Decision Making 21- Strategies for Incident Containment and Mitigation 22- Communication and Coordination During Incident Response 23- Managing Resources and Response Teams Effectively 24- Handling Multiple Concurrent Incidents 25- Documentation and Tracking of Response Actions 26- Eradication Techniques and Removal of Threats 27- System Restoration, Recovery Planning, and Business Continuity Considerations 28- Post-Incident Review and Lessons Learned Workshops 29- Reporting and Compliance Obligations 30- Continuous Improvement and Updating Incident Management Policies 31- Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Incident Management Programs 32- Incident Trend Analysis and Reporting Techniques 33- Internal and External Reporting Requirements 34- Conducting Audits and Maturity Assessments 35- Lessons Learned Integration and Feedback Loops to Improve Processes