Quick Answer
The answer is collecting and analyzing logs. During the detection phase of incident management, the primary goal is to confirm whether a security event truly constitutes an incident, and log analysis provides the forensic evidence needed to validate alerts and scope the event. This phase focuses on identifying indicators of compromise and activating the response team, not on deeper investigation or remediation. On the Certified Information Security Manager CISM exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish detection actions from later phases like containment or recovery, where tasks such as evidence preservation and system rebuilding occur. A common trap is confusing root cause analysis with detection—remember that root cause analysis belongs to the post-incident review, not the initial detection step. To keep phases straight, use the mnemonic “DICE”: Detection (log collection), Initiation (team activation), Containment (evidence preservation), and Eradication/Recovery (rebuilding).
This CISM practice question tests your understanding of incident management. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Which TWO of the following are appropriate actions to take during the detection phase of incident management?
Activate the incident response team
Once an incident is suspected, the team should be mobilized.
Collect and analyze logs
Log analysis helps confirm and scope the incident.
Rebuild systems from backups
Why wrong: Rebuilding is a recovery action.
Conduct root cause analysis
Why wrong: Root cause analysis is performed after containment.
Preserve evidence
Why wrong: Evidence preservation is part of containment.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Activate the incident response team
During detection, the team activates the incident response team and collects/analyzes logs to confirm the incident. Root cause analysis occurs later, evidence preservation is during containment, and rebuilding is recovery.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Activate the incident response team
Why this is correct
Once an incident is suspected, the team should be mobilized.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Collect and analyze logs
Why this is correct
Log analysis helps confirm and scope the incident.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Rebuild systems from backups
Why it's wrong here
Rebuilding is a recovery action.
Conduct root cause analysis
Why it's wrong here
Root cause analysis is performed after containment.
Preserve evidence
Why it's wrong here
Evidence preservation is part of containment.
Common exam traps
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the CISM exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Identify which CISM exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Incident Management — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Incident Management — This question tests Incident Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Activate the incident response team — During detection, the team activates the incident response team and collects/analyzes logs to confirm the incident. Root cause analysis occurs later, evidence preservation is during containment, and rebuilding is recovery.
Identify which CISM exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. During the detection and analysis phase of incident response, which two activities are essential? (Choose two.)
easyWhy A: Options A and C are correct because identifying indicators of compromise and determining the scope of the incident are key to understanding the incident. Restoration, patching, and notification are later phases.
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This CISM practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISACA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CISM exam.
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