Description: Incident investigation is a critical process within the realm of cybersecurity and risk management, focusing on examining the details of an incident to determine its cause. This process involves collecting and analyzing relevant data, identifying vulnerabilities, and assessing the impact of the incident on the organization. Through forensic techniques and specialized tools, security analysts seek to understand how the incident occurred, which systems were affected, and what measures can be implemented to prevent similar future events. Incident investigation not only limits itself to identifying the root cause but also includes documenting findings and preparing reports that can be used to improve security policies and operational procedures. This process is essential for strengthening an organization’s security posture and ensuring business continuity, as it allows learning from mistakes and improving responses to future incidents.
History: Incident investigation in cybersecurity began to take shape in the 1980s when the first computer viruses started to emerge. As technology advanced and networks became more complex, the need to investigate and understand security incidents became critical. In 1996, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) published the first formal framework for incident management, laying the groundwork for modern incident investigation practices. Since then, the evolution of cyber threats has led to a continuous development of methodologies and tools to address these incidents more effectively.
Uses: Incident investigation is primarily used in the field of cybersecurity to respond to security breaches, malware attacks, network intrusions, and other adverse events. It is also applied in the analysis of physical incidents, such as theft or vandalism at facilities. Organizations use this process to comply with regulations and security standards, as well as to improve their internal policies and procedures. Additionally, incident investigation is essential for training incident response teams, enabling organizations to better prepare for future challenges.
Examples: An example of incident investigation is the analysis conducted after the WannaCry ransomware attack in 2017, where investigators examined how the malware spread and what vulnerabilities were exploited. Another case is the investigation of the Equifax data breach in 2017, where a thorough analysis was carried out to determine the cause of the incident and the necessary corrective measures. These cases illustrate the importance of incident investigation in understanding and mitigating risks in the digital environment.
