In what stage of the plan-protect-respond cycle is the cause of an incident investigated?

The investigation into the cause of an incident occurs during the responding stage. This phase is critical because it is when organizations actively address and manage cybersecurity incidents that have occurred. During the response, teams assess the situation, gather forensic evidence, and analyze what led to the incident to understand its root cause. This information is essential for developing effective responses and preventing similar incidents in the future.

The responding stage also involves containment, eradication, and recovery activities, which all require a deep understanding of the incident's origin to ensure a thorough remediation process. By determining how the incident happened, organizations can implement more robust protections and improve their overall security posture moving forward. This proactive investigation is a vital part of refining future planning and protective measures to enhance overall cybersecurity resilience.