Which element of an incident response plan is focused on obtaining and preserving evidence?

The element of an incident response plan that is focused on obtaining and preserving evidence is the investigation phase. This phase is essential because it allows the response team to gather relevant data that can support the understanding of the incident, its impact, and potential vulnerabilities that may have been exploited.

During the investigation, incident responders focus on collecting logs, alert data, and any other relevant digital artifacts that could provide insight into the incident's timeline and scope. Properly preserving this evidence is crucial, as it may be needed for legal proceedings or further analysis to enhance future security measures.

While containment refers to the steps taken to limit the damage of an incident, and recovery involves restoring systems to normal operations, these do not primarily address the critical aspect of gathering and preserving evidence. Analysis comes into play once evidence has been collected to understand the incident and evaluate the response's effectiveness. Thus, the investigation phase is key to laying the groundwork for an effective response to cybersecurity incidents.