What is the primary goal of the preparation phase in an incident response plan?

The primary goal of the preparation phase in an incident response plan is to ensure readiness against potential incidents. This phase focuses on creating and updating policies, procedures, and controls that help an organization respond effectively when a security incident occurs. It includes developing training programs for staff, establishing an incident response team, and ensuring that all necessary tools and resources are in place for quick and effective action.

By proactively preparing, organizations can minimize response time and improve their ability to manage incidents, ultimately reducing the impact on operations. The preparation phase is foundational, as it sets the stage for all subsequent phases of incident response, including identification, containment, eradication, recovery, and lessons learned.