Quick Answer
The answer is Detection, Containment, and Preparation. These three are primary phases of the incident response lifecycle because the NIST SP 800-61 framework defines a structured process that begins with Preparation—establishing policies and tools before any incident occurs—then moves through Detection and Analysis to identify anomalies, followed by Containment, Eradication, and Recovery to stop the spread and restore operations. On the ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity CC exam, this concept tests your understanding of the lifecycle’s core sequence, often appearing in scenario-based questions where you must distinguish primary phases from supporting activities like post-incident review. A common trap is confusing Eradication or Recovery as primary phases; remember that the exam focuses on the three that directly address incident readiness, identification, and immediate containment. To recall them, use the mnemonic “P-D-C” as in “Prepare, Detect, Contain”—the first three steps that halt an incident’s momentum before cleanup begins.
This CC practice question tests your understanding of business continuity, dr & incident response. 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 THREE are primary phases of the incident response lifecycle?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "primary"
Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Containment
Containment phase limits damage and prevents spread.
Forensic Analysis
Why wrong: Forensic analysis is an activity within the investigation phase.
Preparation
Preparation phase includes training, tooling, and planning.
Data Archiving
Why wrong: Data archiving is a separate process, not a primary phase.
Detection
Detection phase involves identifying potential incidents.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Containment
Containment is a primary phase of the incident response lifecycle because it focuses on stopping the spread of an incident and preventing further damage. In the NIST SP 800-61 framework, containment is explicitly listed as a core phase, following detection and analysis. This phase includes actions such as isolating affected systems, blocking malicious IPs via ACLs, or disabling compromised accounts to limit the blast radius.
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.
Containment
Why this is correct
Containment phase limits damage and prevents spread.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Forensic Analysis
Why it's wrong here
Forensic analysis is an activity within the investigation phase.
Preparation
Why this is correct
Preparation phase includes training, tooling, and planning.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Data Archiving
Why it's wrong here
Data archiving is a separate process, not a primary phase.
Detection
Why this is correct
Detection phase involves identifying potential incidents.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
ISC2 often tests the distinction between primary phases and supporting activities, so candidates mistakenly select 'Forensic Analysis' or 'Data Archiving' as primary phases when they are actually tasks performed within the Containment or Post-Incident phases.
Detailed technical explanation
The incident response lifecycle, as defined by NIST SP 800-61 Rev. 2, consists of four primary phases: Preparation, Detection & Analysis, Containment/Eradication/Recovery, and Post-Incident Activity. Containment strategies can be short-term (e.g., disabling a port) or long-term (e.g., applying a firewall rule), and the choice depends on the threat's persistence. In real-world scenarios, a poorly executed containment can alert an attacker, causing them to destroy evidence before forensic analysis begins.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A SOC analyst notices unusual lateral movement in the network at 2 AM. The IR playbook dictates: identify and contain (isolate the affected machine), then eradicate (remove the malware), then recover (restore from backup), then document. Skipping containment before eradication risks the attacker regaining access. Questions like this test the sequence and rationale of incident response phases.
What to study next
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FAQ
Business Continuity, DR & Incident Response — This question tests Business Continuity, DR & Incident Response — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Containment — Containment is a primary phase of the incident response lifecycle because it focuses on stopping the spread of an incident and preventing further damage. In the NIST SP 800-61 framework, containment is explicitly listed as a core phase, following detection and analysis. This phase includes actions such as isolating affected systems, blocking malicious IPs via ACLs, or disabling compromised accounts to limit the blast radius.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
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