Incident responders must equip themselves with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills to efficiently detect and respond to threats. Books are a valuable resource in this journey. Below, we explore five essential books that can significantly enhance your incident response capabilities:
1. Incident Response & Computer Forensics, Third Edition
2. Incident Response Techniques for Ransomware Attacks
3. Digital Forensics and Incident Response: Incident Response Techniques and Procedures
4. Blue Team Handbook: Incident Response Edition
5. The Art of Memory Forensics: Detecting Malware and Threats in Windows, Linux, and Mac Memory
Target Audience: SOC Analysts (All Levels), Incident Responders, Forensic Analysts
Level: Beginner to Advanced
Authors: Jason T. Luttgens, Matthew Pepe, Kevin Mandia
About the book: This comprehensive guide covers all aspects of incident response and computer forensics. The book provides a detailed exploration of the process, from detection to resolution, offering insights into creating an incident response plan, handling various types of incidents, and conducting forensic investigations. Readers will learn practical techniques for investigating and mitigating incidents, with real-world case studies enhancing the learning experience.
What you will learn:
Target Audience: SOC Analysts (Tier 2, 3), Incident Response Teams
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Authors: Oleg Skulkin
About the book: This book specifically addresses the growing threat of ransomware, offering detailed techniques for responding to such incidents. It covers the entire lifecycle of a ransomware attack, from initial detection to recovery, and provides practical advice on how to mitigate and prevent future attacks. The book includes case studies of real-world incidents and offers actionable steps to enhance your organization's ransomware defenses, making it an essential read for any SOC team focused on this prevalent threat.
What you will learn:
Target Audience: SOC Analysts (Tier 1, 2), Incident Responders
Level: Beginner to Medium
Authors: Gerard Johansen
About the book: This book bridges the gap between theory and practice, offering a hands-on approach to digital forensics and incident response. It covers essential topics such as preparing for incidents, identifying malicious activity, and conducting forensic analysis. The practical examples and case studies included help reinforce the concepts, making it an excellent resource for those new to incident response.
What you will learn:
Target Audience: SOC Analysts (All Levels)
Level: Beginner
Authors: Don Murdoch
About the book: Known as the "Blue Team Bible," this handbook provides tactical advice and procedures for incident response. It covers various incident response frameworks, provides detailed incident detection and analysis steps, and discusses recovery processes. The book’s concise format makes it easy to use as a quick reference during incidents, helping analysts swiftly and effectively respond to cyber threats.
What you will learn:
Books are good to learn some skills, but you need to do practice. With these hands-on courses, you can learn better Windows and Linux incident response process.
Target Audience: SOC Analysts (Tier 2, 3), Forensic Analysts, Incident Responders
Level: Intermediate
Authors: Michael Hale Ligh, Andrew Case, Jamie Levy, Aaron Walters
About the book: This book delves into the specialized field of memory forensics, providing a deep understanding of how to detect and analyze malware and other threats using memory analysis techniques. It covers the fundamentals of memory forensics across multiple platforms (Windows, Linux, and Mac), and offers hands-on guidance with practical exercises. The authors, who are experts in the field, share their knowledge on the latest tools and methods, making it an essential resource for those involved in incident response and forensic analysis. This book is particularly valuable for SOC analysts looking to enhance their skills in detecting sophisticated threats that leave minimal traces on disk.
What you will learn:
