Incident Analysis Guide - CompTIA Security+

What is Incident Analysis:
Incident Analysis is a critical step in the incident response and forensics process. It involves the examination and interpretation of incident-related data to determine the specifics of the incident, its impact, as well as its cause. This data could come from a variety of sources including system logs, user reports, and intrusion detection systems.

Why is it Important:
Incident Analysis is vital for several reasons. It facilitates the accurate identification of security incidents, their scope, and potential damage. Moreover, it aids in the design of future preventive measures and provides the groundwork for all incident response actions that follow.

How it Works:
The process of Incident Analysis begins with data collection. The relevant data is then evaluated to uncover any abnormal activity, which is further assessed to categorize and quantify any potential threats.

Exam Tips for Answering Questions on Incident Analysis:
1. Understand the Incident Analysis steps: Make sure you know the process from data collection to threat assessment.
2. Interpret situational questions: Examiners often use situations or scenarios to test your application of Incident Analysis. Practice interpreting and responding to these.
3. Know your terminology: Familiarize yourself with key terms such as 'scope', 'threat assessment', and 'incident response'.
4. Analyze incidents holistically: Don't forget that Incident Analysis is part of a wider incident response and forensics process. Your answers should reflect this interconnectedness.