When does incident response typically begin?

Incident response typically begins before an incident occurs because proactive measures are essential for effective incident management. This preparation phase involves creating and maintaining an incident response plan, conducting risk assessments, and implementing preventive measures. By anticipating potential incidents and identifying vulnerabilities, organizations can establish protocols and responsibilities for responding to incidents quickly and effectively.

Planning entails training staff, putting communication strategies in place, and maintaining an inventory of assets, which are all crucial for minimizing the impact of an incident when it does occur. Preparing beforehand equips teams with the necessary tools and knowledge to identify and address incidents swiftly, ultimately leading to a more effective and efficient response. This proactive approach is foundational to mitigating risks and ensuring that the organization can handle incidents without significant disruption or damage.

The other scenarios, like starting the response upon receiving an incident report or during or after an incident, reflect reactive responses rather than proactive incident management strategies. While having a response to incidents is critical, the emphasis on preparedness helps organizations to potentially avoid situations where responses are urgently needed in the first place.