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PATH 03 · INVESTIGATE

Investigation & Response

Connect evidence across endpoints and networks. Reconstruct the story and communicate it.

Learn structured incident investigation workflows: from initial alert triage through multi-host timeline reconstruction and defensible executive reporting.

Intended goal

Confidently answer the three essential responder questions: What happened? What evidence proves it? What should the team do next?

Suggested baseline skills

  • Understanding of network protocols (DNS, HTTP/S, SMB, Kerberos)
  • Basic endpoint forensics concepts (process trees, timestamps, persistence points)

Learning progression

Step 1

Initial Alert Triage & Scope Determination

Quickly separate high-fidelity signals from benign noise, identifying the affected hosts and user accounts.

Step 2

Multi-Source Evidence Correlation

Pivot between endpoint Sysmon logs, Zeek network connections, and authentication records to uncover lateral movement.

Step 3

Reconstruct an Objective Timeline

Assemble an unbroken chronological sequence of attacker activity, noting dwell time, access points, and exfiltration attempts.

Step 4

Produce Defensible Incident Briefings

Draft clear, actionable technical reports and executive summaries that explain the root cause and immediate remediation actions.

START HERE

Your first resource

Begin with this free, practical session before advancing through the sequence.

Think Like a Defender: Tabletop Exercise

43 min

Watch session
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