Which of the following is MOST critical for incident classification?

The correct answer is C. Developing incident criteria. Developing incident criteria is most critical because classification is impossible without predefined definitions, thresholds, and categories that determine what constitutes an incident and at what severity level. Incident criteria answer questions like: What makes something a…

Submitted by jordan8· Apr 18, 2026Incident Management

Question

Options

AConducting incident response tabletop exercises
BObtaining senior management buy-in
CDeveloping incident criteria
DEstablishing incident response key performance indicators (KPIs)

How the community answered

(46 responses)

A
2% (1)
B
2% (1)
C
91% (42)
D
4% (2)

Explanation

Developing incident criteria is most critical because classification is impossible without predefined definitions, thresholds, and categories that determine what constitutes an incident and at what severity level. Incident criteria answer questions like: What makes something a Severity 1 vs. Severity 3 incident? What distinguishes an event from an incident? Without these criteria, classification becomes arbitrary and inconsistent. Option A (tabletop exercises) tests and improves response capabilities but presupposes that classification criteria already exist. Option B (management buy-in) supports the incident response program broadly but does not enable classification itself. Option D (KPIs) measures program effectiveness after incidents occur, not during classification.

Topics

#Incident Classification#Incident Management Process#Incident Criteria

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