SANS Incident Handler's Handbook and PICERL Methodology
The SANS Institute Incident Handler's Handbook establishes the widely-adopted PICERL incident response methodology: Preparation, Identification, Containment, Eradication, Recovery, and Lessons Learned. SANS provides the most widely recognised incident response training and certifications: GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH), GIAC Certified Forensic Analyst (GCFA), and GIAC Certified Forensic Examiner (GCFE). The SANS methodology is taught in SEC504 (Hacker Tools, Techniques, and Incident Handling), the most popular information security course worldwide. SANS also maintains the Internet Storm Center (ISC) and SANS Technology Institute.
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Framework Domains (12)
Containment
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| PICERL-C-01 | Containment: Short Term Containment Strategy |
| PICERL-C-02 | Containment: System Backup Before Remediation |
| PICERL-C-03 | Containment: Long Term Containment |
Eradication
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| PICERL-E-01 | Eradication: Root Cause Analysis |
| PICERL-E-02 | Eradication: Removal of Threat Actor Artefacts |
| PICERL-E-03 | Eradication: Credential Reset and Identity Hygiene |
Identification
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| PICERL-I-01 | Identification: Detection Sources and Alert Triage |
| PICERL-I-02 | Identification: Incident Declaration and Notification |
| PICERL-I-03 | Identification: Evidence Collection and Chain of Custody |
| PICERL-I-04 | Identification: Scope Determination |
Lessons Learned
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| PICERL-L-01 | Lessons Learned: Post Incident Review |
| PICERL-L-02 | Lessons Learned: Control Improvements and Detection Engineering |
| PICERL-L-03 | Lessons Learned: Metrics and Reporting to Executives |
Phase 1 - Preparation
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| PICERL-P1 | Security Policy Review |
| PICERL-P2 | Risk Assessment |
| PICERL-P3 | CSIRT Formation |
| PICERL-P4 | Tools and Documentation |
Phase 2 - Identification
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| PICERL-I1 | Monitoring and Detection |
| PICERL-I2 | Evidence Collection |
| PICERL-I3 | Incident Classification |
Phase 3 - Containment
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| PICERL-C1 | Short-Term Containment |
| PICERL-C2 | System Backup |
| PICERL-C3 | Long-Term Containment |
Phase 4 - Eradication
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| PICERL-E1 | Threat Removal |
| PICERL-E2 | Root Cause Analysis |
| PICERL-E3 | Backdoor Elimination |
Phase 5 - Recovery
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| PICERL-R1 | System Restoration |
| PICERL-R2 | Security Verification |
| PICERL-R3 | Enhanced Monitoring |
Phase 6 - Lessons Learned
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| PICERL-L1 | Post-Incident Review |
| PICERL-L2 | Documentation and Reporting |
| PICERL-L3 | Plan Improvement |
Preparation
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| PICERL-P-01 | Preparation: Incident Response Policy and Charter |
| PICERL-P-02 | Preparation: Incident Response Team Roles and Skills |
| PICERL-P-03 | Preparation: Jump Kit and Tooling Readiness |
| PICERL-P-04 | Preparation: Logging, Detection, and Telemetry Baseline |
| PICERL-P-05 | Preparation: Tabletop Exercises and Drills |
Recovery
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| PICERL-R-01 | Recovery: Restoration Planning and Sequencing |
| PICERL-R-02 | Recovery: Validation and Monitoring |
| PICERL-R-03 | Recovery: Communications and Stakeholder Updates |
Your Compliance Coverage
If you comply with SANS Incident Handler's Handbook and PICERL Methodology, you already cover:
South Korea ISMS-P
20%
8 controls mapped
Compare →UK Gambling Commission - Cyber Resilience Requirements
20%
8 controls mapped
Compare →AWS Well-Architected Security Pillar
18%
7 controls mapped
Compare →+ 275 more: ISO 22320:2018 (18%), NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0 (18%)
See all 278 mapped frameworks ↓Maps to 278 other frameworks
Frequently Asked Questions
What is SANS Incident Handler's Handbook and PICERL Methodology?
SANS Incident Handler's Handbook and PICERL Methodology is a compliance framework from International (SANS Institute) with 12 domains and 40 controls. The SANS Institute Incident Handler's Handbook establishes the widely-adopted PICERL incident response methodology: Preparation, Identification, Containment, Eradication, Recovery, and Lessons Learned. SANS provides the most widely recognised incident response training and certifications: GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH), GIAC Certified Forensic Analyst (GCFA), and GIAC Certified Forensic Examiner (GCFE). The SANS methodology is taught in SEC504 (Hacker Tools, Techniques, and Incident Handling), the most popular information security course worldwide. SANS also maintains the Internet Storm Center (ISC) and SANS Technology Institute. It is used by organisations to establish and maintain compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
How many controls does SANS Incident Handler's Handbook and PICERL Methodology have?
SANS Incident Handler's Handbook and PICERL Methodology has 40 controls organised across 12 domains. The largest domains are Preparation (5 controls), Identification (4 controls), Phase 1 - Preparation (4 controls). Each control defines specific requirements that organisations must implement to achieve compliance.
What frameworks does SANS Incident Handler's Handbook and PICERL Methodology map to?
SANS Incident Handler's Handbook and PICERL Methodology maps to 278 other compliance frameworks. The top mapping partners are South Korea ISMS-P (20% coverage), UK Gambling Commission - Cyber Resilience Requirements (20% coverage), AWS Well-Architected Security Pillar (18% coverage). Use our comparison tool to explore control-level mappings between frameworks.
How do I get started with SANS Incident Handler's Handbook and PICERL Methodology compliance?
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