Quick Answer
The answer is Preparation and Containment, as these are two of the four key phases of the NIST incident response life cycle defined in NIST SP 800-61. The NIST framework structures incident response into four distinct stages: Preparation, Detection and Analysis, Containment Eradication and Recovery, and Post-Incident Activity. Preparation is the foundational phase where organizations establish policies, tools, and training before any incident occurs, while Containment focuses on limiting damage and preventing further spread during an active security event. On the ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity CC exam, this concept tests your understanding of the structured lifecycle approach rather than ad-hoc response—a common trap is confusing Containment with Eradication or Recovery, which are separate steps. To remember the order, think of the acronym PDCP: Prepare, Detect, Contain, Post-mortem.
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 TWO are phases of the NIST incident response life cycle? (Select exactly 2.)
Preparation
Preparation is the first phase.
Documentation
Why wrong: Documentation is performed throughout but is not a standalone phase.
Assessment
Why wrong: Assessment is not a separate phase; it is part of Detection and Analysis.
Authorization
Why wrong: Authorization is not a phase; it may be part of decision-making.
Containment
Containment is a key phase to limit damage.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Preparation
Option A is correct because Preparation is the first phase of the NIST SP 800-61 incident response life cycle, focusing on establishing policies, tools, and training before an incident occurs. This phase ensures the organization is ready to detect and respond to security events effectively.
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.
Preparation
Why this is correct
Preparation is the first phase.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Documentation
Why it's wrong here
Documentation is performed throughout but is not a standalone phase.
Assessment
Why it's wrong here
Assessment is not a separate phase; it is part of Detection and Analysis.
Authorization
Why it's wrong here
Authorization is not a phase; it may be part of decision-making.
Containment
Why this is correct
Containment is a key phase to limit damage.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
ISC2 often tests the distinction between the official NIST phase names and common but incorrect terms like 'Assessment' or 'Documentation', expecting candidates to recall that only 'Preparation' and 'Containment' (as part of Containment/Eradication/Recovery) are explicitly listed phases.
Detailed technical explanation
The NIST SP 800-61 Revision 2 incident response life cycle consists of four phases: Preparation, Detection & Analysis, Containment/Eradication/Recovery, and Post-Incident Activity. Containment (Option E) is a critical sub-step within the Containment/Eradication/Recovery phase, where short-term and long-term containment strategies (e.g., isolating affected systems, blocking IPs via ACLs) are implemented to prevent further damage while preserving evidence for forensic analysis.
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: Preparation — Option A is correct because Preparation is the first phase of the NIST SP 800-61 incident response life cycle, focusing on establishing policies, tools, and training before an incident occurs. This phase ensures the organization is ready to detect and respond to security events effectively.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
This CC practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 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 CC exam.
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