What is the main goal of the recovery phase in incident response?

The main goal of the recovery phase in incident response is to restore systems to normal operations. This phase is crucial because after an incident, systems may be compromised, data could be lost, or operational capabilities could be disrupted. The focus during recovery is on getting the affected systems back to a functional state as quickly and safely as possible. This involves repairing or replacing compromised systems, restoring data from backups, and ensuring that all systems are securely configured to prevent further incidents. A successful recovery enables continuity of operations and allows the organization to return to its normal business functions, thus minimizing the impact of the incident on the organization’s overall performance.

While analyzing the incident's root cause, training staff on new security protocols, and minimizing future risks are important aspects of incident management, they are typically part of different phases such as lessons learned, preparation, or mitigation strategies, rather than the recovery phase itself. The priority during recovery remains on reinstating operational capability swiftly and effectively.