Which phase of incident response focuses on the restoration of normal IT operations?

The phase of incident response that centers on the restoration of normal IT operations is the recovery phase. During this stage, the primary objective is to restore systems, applications, and services to a functional state after an incident has occurred. This involves activities such as implementing backups, applying patches, and ensuring that any vulnerabilities have been addressed, so that operations can resume securely and efficiently.

The focus on returning to normalcy distinguishes the recovery phase from other phases in the incident response process. For example, while the eradication phase involves the removal of the root cause of the incident, the recovery phase is concerned with reinstating IT functions that may have been disrupted. Similarly, containment efforts are focused on limiting the spread of the incident and preventing further damage, while detection is about identifying and recognizing potential security incidents in the first place. Each phase plays a crucial role, but the recovery phase is specifically aimed at restoring normal operations following an incident.