In the context of incident response, what does "mitigation" refer to?

Mitigation in the context of incident response specifically refers to taking action to minimize the impact of a cybersecurity incident. This involves implementing strategies and measures to reduce the extent of damage from an incident, such as isolating affected systems, applying filters or blocks to prevent further intrusion, or increasing security measures to protect vulnerable assets. The goal of mitigation is to limit the consequences of the incident on the organization and its operations.

This concept is essential in incident response because it helps ensure that an organization can stabilize its environment and maintain continuity while dealing with the aftermath of an incident. It is a proactive approach that aims to contain the damage and prevent it from escalating, which is vital in managing incidents effectively. Mitigation can involve both short-term actions to manage immediate threats and longer-term strategies to fortify defenses against future incidents.