- A
Patch all systems in the organization as a precaution
Why wrong: Patching may be part of recovery or ongoing security, but not specifically a post-incident activity.
- B
Update the incident response plan based on findings
The plan should be updated to incorporate lessons learned.
- C
Replace all affected hardware immediately
Why wrong: Replacement is part of recovery, not post-incident analysis.
- D
Conduct a lessons learned meeting
This is a key post-incident activity to review what went well and what didn't.
- E
Track metrics such as MTTD and MTTR
Metrics help measure effectiveness and identify trends.
Question 212 of 1,000
SSCP Incident Response and Recovery Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of incident response and recovery. 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.
During a post-incident review, the incident response team identifies several areas for improvement. According to NIST SP 800-61, which THREE activities are typically part of the post-incident activity phase?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Update the incident response plan based on findings
Option B is correct because NIST SP 800-61 explicitly states that the post-incident activity phase includes updating the incident response plan based on lessons learned and findings from the incident. This ensures the plan evolves to address gaps and improve future response effectiveness.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Patch all systems in the organization as a precaution
Why it's wrong here
Patching may be part of recovery or ongoing security, but not specifically a post-incident activity.
- ✓
Update the incident response plan based on findings
Why this is correct
The plan should be updated to incorporate lessons learned.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Replace all affected hardware immediately
Why it's wrong here
Replacement is part of recovery, not post-incident analysis.
- ✓
Conduct a lessons learned meeting
Why this is correct
This is a key post-incident activity to review what went well and what didn't.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Track metrics such as MTTD and MTTR
Why this is correct
Metrics help measure effectiveness and identify trends.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is confusing operational recovery actions (like patching or hardware replacement) with the analytical and improvement-focused activities that define the post-incident phase per NIST SP 800-61.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NIST SP 800-61 Rev. 2 outlines the post-incident activity phase as including lessons learned meetings, creating a final incident report, and updating the incident response plan. Metrics like Mean Time to Detect (MTTD) and Mean Time to Respond (MTTR) are tracked to measure performance and identify trends, enabling data-driven improvements to detection and response processes.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A security team runs a vulnerability scan on a web application and discovers an unpatched SQL injection flaw. The team prioritises remediation by CVSS score — critical flaws are patched within 24 hours, high within 7 days. Questions like this test whether you understand vulnerability management processes, scanning tools, and remediation prioritisation.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Incident Response and Recovery — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SSCP question test?
Incident Response and Recovery — This question tests Incident Response and Recovery — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Update the incident response plan based on findings — Option B is correct because NIST SP 800-61 explicitly states that the post-incident activity phase includes updating the incident response plan based on lessons learned and findings from the incident. This ensures the plan evolves to address gaps and improve future response effectiveness.
What should I do if I get this SSCP question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This SSCP 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 SSCP exam.
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