In incident response, what does “eradication” refer to?

In the context of incident response, "eradication" specifically refers to the removal of the root cause of an incident. This step is crucial in the incident response process as it ensures that the vulnerabilities or threats that led to the incident are entirely eliminated, preventing any possibility of recurrence. It follows the containment phase, where immediate threats are neutralized to protect the organization's assets, and sets the stage for recovery.

Eradication may involve various actions, such as patching vulnerabilities, removing malware, updating security configurations, or even rebuilding affected systems to ensure that the threat is fully dealt with. This process not only addresses the symptoms of the incident but also works towards preventing similar incidents in the future. By effectively eradicating the root cause, an organization can restore its systems to a secure state and enhance its overall security posture.