Which aspect is essential in the preparation phase of incident response?

Establishing an incident response team is crucial during the preparation phase of incident response because this team is responsible for effectively managing and responding to incidents when they occur. The composition of this team typically includes individuals with various skills and expertise needed to handle different aspects of incident response, such as technical analysis, communication, and coordination with other stakeholders.

Moreover, having a dedicated incident response team ensures that there is a clear point of contact and a structured approach to incident management. This preparation helps organizations respond more swiftly and efficiently, minimizing the impact of incidents on operations. The effectiveness of the incident response strategy depends significantly on the team's readiness and ability to execute predefined response plans, which are often crafted during the preparation phase.

In contrast to this, while conducting a post-incident review, implementing mitigation strategies, and identifying potential incidents are all part of the broader incident response process, they do not serve the foundational purpose of establishing a structured team to manage incidents effectively, which is central to the preparation phase.