If a possible breach occurred, what should the network security manager review first?

In the context of a possible breach, reviewing the vulnerability scan output is crucial because it provides detailed information about known vulnerabilities within the network that could be exploited by attackers. This output helps identify which systems are at risk and what potential weaknesses need immediate attention. By understanding the vulnerabilities present, the network security manager can prioritize their response to mitigate risk and implement necessary fixes.

While alerts from a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system can provide useful insights, they primarily focus on logs and event data, which may not point directly to specific vulnerabilities. Similarly, Intrusion Detection System (IDS) logs do document suspicious activity but do not necessarily correlate that activity with existing vulnerabilities in the network. Full packet capture data can provide granular insight into network traffic and specific communications but analyzing this data first can be time-consuming and may not quickly reveal vulnerabilities that could have facilitated the breach.

Starting with the vulnerability scan output enables a focused approach to understanding where weaknesses exist that could have led to the breach, thus allowing for a more efficient and effective incident response.