What is the last step in the incident response process?

The final step in the incident response process is to evaluate. This step is crucial as it involves a thorough assessment of the incident to understand what occurred, the effectiveness of the response, and the lessons learned. Evaluating allows security personnel to analyze the incident response procedures, assess the adequacy of the response measures taken, and identify any weaknesses or areas for improvement.

This evaluation process is fundamental for developing better strategies for future incidents and ensures continuous improvement in security protocols. It helps organizations refine their incident response plan based on real-world experiences and reinforces the importance of learning from incidents to better prepare for potential future threats.

In contrast, actions like documenting, re-assessing, or merely acting do not encompass the comprehensive analysis required that combines all aspects of the incident response, making evaluation the essential concluding step in the incident response framework.