// THREAT DETECTION AND DATA PRIVACY TERM

Categorization

In cybersecurity incident response, categorization is the process of classifying a detected security event based on its type, severity, and potential impact. This helps organizations understand the nature of the incident and determine the most appropriate response actions.

TECHNICAL DEFINITION

Within cybersecurity incident response, categorization is the critical initial phase where detected security incidents are classified based on predefined criteria such as incident type (e.g., malware, unauthorized access, data breach), severity, and potential impact on organizational assets, enabling effective prioritization and resource allocation for subsequent handling and resolution.

BACKGROUND

The NIST Cybersecurity Framework, is a set of guidelines designed to help organizations assess and improve their preparedness against cybersecurity threats. Developed in 2014 by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology, the framework has been adopted by cyber security professionals and organizations around the world. The NIST framework has provided a basis for communication and understanding of cybersecurity principles between organizations, both in the private sector and public, such as governments. The framework, which is publicly available online for free, provides recommendations of existing cybersecurity standards and actions that organizations can take to mitigate cybersecurity risk.

READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIA

SYNONYMS & ALIASES

  • Classification
  • Incident Classification
  • Incident Typing
  • Threat Categorization
  • Event Classification

USAGE NOTE

Effective incident categorization is crucial for activating the correct incident response playbooks and ensuring resources are allocated appropriately, but inconsistent or inaccurate categorization can lead to delayed or ineffective responses.

DEVELOPERS

Organizations developing technology related to Categorization.

  • Palo Alto Networks

    Develops firewalls and cloud security solutions that categorize network traffic, applications, users, and threats to enforce security policies and prevent attacks.

  • CrowdStrike

    Offers endpoint protection, threat intelligence, and incident response services, utilizing advanced categorization of threats, malware, and adversary tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs).

  • Recorded Future

    Provides a threat intelligence platform that categorizes and contextualizes vast amounts of data from the open web, dark web, and technical sources to identify and prioritize risks.

  • IBM Security

    Develops a broad portfolio of security solutions, including SIEM (QRadar) that categorizes security events, logs, and network flows for threat detection and compliance.

  • Microsoft Security

    Provides comprehensive security solutions across endpoints, cloud, and identity, utilizing sophisticated categorization of assets, vulnerabilities, threats, and user behaviors for protection and risk management.

  • Splunk

    Offers a leading Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) platform that ingests, categorizes, and analyzes machine data from various sources to provide operational intelligence and security insights.

  • Mandiant (Google Cloud Security)

    Specializes in cybersecurity incident response and threat intelligence, categorizing adversary groups, their TTPs, and specific malware families to help organizations defend against advanced threats.

RELATED TERMS IN INCIDENT RESPONSE