In a Security Operations Center (SOC), incident response (IR) is critical to detect, analyze, and mitigate cyber threats effectively. SOC analysts must follow structured processes to respond to incidents and protect organizational data. Here are the top 15 IR questions and detailed answers.

Q.1 What are the steps in the incident response process?

The incident response process is a structured method SOC teams follow to handle security incidents. The main steps are:

  • Preparation: Ensure tools, policies, and trained personnel are ready. This includes setting up monitoring tools, incident playbooks, and response plans.
  • Identification: Detect suspicious activity or alerts using SIEM, EDR, firewall logs, or user reports. This step confirms whether an incident is occurring.
  • Containment: Implement temporary measures to prevent the threat from spreading. This may involve isolating infected devices, blocking malicious IPs, or shutting down compromised accounts.
  • Eradication: Remove malware, close vulnerabilities, and ensure no traces of the attack remain.
  • Recovery: Restore systems to normal operations, verify integrity, and monitor for recurring threats.
  • Lessons Learned: Document the incident, analyze failures, and improve processes, playbooks, and security controls for the future.

Q.2 How do you handle a phishing attack incident?

Phishing is one of the most common attack vectors, where attackers trick users into revealing sensitive information. To handle it:

  • Identify affected accounts by reviewing email logs and alerts.
  • Isolate impacted systems to prevent malware installation or credential theft.
  • Block the malicious email sender and any related domains.
  • Reset user passwords and enable MFA if not already in place.
  • Educate employees about the phishing email to prevent further clicks.

Q.3 How would you respond to ransomware activity detected in a network?

Ransomware encrypts files and can quickly spread across the network. SOC response includes:

  • Immediate isolation of infected devices to prevent spread.
  • Identification of the ransomware type and affected files.
  • Data restoration from secure backups to avoid paying ransom.
  • Communication with management and stakeholders about the incident.
  • Post-incident analysis to understand how the attack occurred and how to prevent it in the future.

Q.4 How do you contain and eradicate a malware infection?

  • Containment: Temporarily stop malware spread by disconnecting infected devices, blocking malicious IP addresses, and suspending compromised accounts.
  • Eradication: Remove malware using antivirus, EDR tools, or scripts. Patch exploited vulnerabilities, update system signatures, and confirm no remnants of the threat remain.

Q.5 What is the difference between containment and remediation?

  • Containment: Temporary actions to stop the immediate threat from spreading. Example: Disconnecting infected devices from the network.
  • Remediation: Permanent steps to fix the root cause of the attack. Example: Removing malware, patching vulnerabilities, and restoring affected systems.

Q.6 What tools are used for forensic investigation in SOC?

SOC analysts use specialized tools for digital forensics:

  • EnCase, FTK, Autopsy: Analyze files, disks, and evidence.
  • Wireshark, Zeek: Inspect network traffic for suspicious patterns.
  • ELK Stack, Splunk (SIEM): Correlate logs across multiple systems.
  • Volatility: Analyze memory for malware traces and runtime artifacts.

These tools help understand attack paths, techniques used, and affected systems.

Q.7 What is a Root Cause Analysis (RCA)?

RCA identifies the underlying reason an incident occurred rather than just addressing symptoms.

Example:
If ransomware encrypts files, RCA might reveal that attackers exploited an unpatched software vulnerability or that users clicked malicious email links. Fixing these root causes prevents similar attacks in the future.

Q.8 How do you prioritize incidents during an active attack?

SOC teams prioritize incidents based on:

  • Impact on critical systems (servers, databases, applications).
  • Number of users affected (widespread attack vs. single device).
  • Sensitivity of data at risk (customer, financial, or regulatory data).
  • Urgency (active threats require immediate response vs. dormant issues).

High-impact and urgent incidents are addressed first to minimize damage.

Q.9 What is the purpose of incident post-mortem analysis?

Post-mortem analysis helps SOC teams:

  • Understand what went wrong.
  • Identify gaps in security controls or procedures.
  • Improve response strategies, playbooks, and employee training.
  • Share lessons learned with stakeholders and other teams to prevent recurrence.

Q.10 What is a security playbook and how is it used in IR?

A security playbook is a step-by-step guide for responding to specific types of security incidents.

Usage:

  • Ensures SOC analysts respond quickly and consistently.
  • Provides predefined steps for detection, containment, eradication, and recovery.
  • Helps coordinate team actions during high-pressure incidents.

Q.11 How would you handle an insider threat?

  • Monitor for suspicious behavior, such as accessing sensitive files unexpectedly.
  • Use Data Loss Prevention (DLP) tools to block unauthorized data transfers.
  • Investigate alerts and coordinate with HR/security teams.
  • Contain the threat by revoking access or isolating systems if necessary.

Insider threats are often harder to detect because attackers have legitimate access.

Q.12 How do you deal with a data breach in SOC operations?

  • Identify affected systems and contain the breach immediately.
  • Analyze the scope of compromised data (customer info, financial records, etc.).
  • Notify stakeholders, management, and regulatory authorities if required.
  • Begin remediation to patch vulnerabilities and strengthen security controls.

Q.13 How would you respond if a critical server goes offline suddenly?

  • Check network connectivity, system logs, and monitoring alerts.
  • Determine if the issue is hardware failure, misconfiguration, or cyberattack.
  • Activate backup or failover systems to maintain business operations.
  • Investigate root cause and restore the server to normal operations.

Q.14 What actions do you take after detecting brute-force login attempts?

  • Block suspicious IP addresses or entire regions if needed.
  • Temporarily lock targeted accounts.
  • Enable or enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA).
  • Review logs to confirm no accounts were compromised and monitor for repeated attempts.

Q.15 What are containment strategies for DDoS attacks?

  • Traffic filtering and rate limiting at firewalls and load balancers.
  • Use cloud-based DDoS protection services to absorb traffic.
  • Isolate affected systems and reroute traffic to minimize downtime.
  • Monitor and alert the SOC team throughout the attack.

 Conclusion

Incident response in SOC is not just about reacting to attacks — it’s about preparation, structured response, containment, eradication, and continuous improvement. SOC analysts must follow processes, use the right tools, and apply security playbooks to protect systems, minimize damage, and strengthen defenses against future incidents.