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.
SANS Incident Handler's Handbook and PICERL Methodology is a compliance framework from International (SANS Institute) with 12 domains and 40 controls that map to 171 other frameworks. The largest domains are Preparation (5 controls), Identification (4 controls), Phase 1 - Preparation (4 controls). Every control below carries what it requires and what an assessor expects to see.
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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
Phase 2 - Identification
Phase 3 - Containment
Phase 4 - Eradication
Phase 5 - Recovery
Phase 6 - Lessons Learned
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 →PSD2 SCA
18%
7 controls mapped
Compare →ISO 22320:2018
18%
7 controls mapped
Compare →+ 168 more: NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0 (18%), PCI SSF (18%)
See all 171 mapped frameworks ↓Maps to 171 other frameworks
What is SANS Incident Handler's Handbook and PICERL Methodology and who does it apply to?
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.
What does SANS Incident Handler's Handbook and PICERL Methodology actually require?
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.
If I already comply with another framework, how much of SANS Incident Handler's Handbook and PICERL Methodology do I already cover?
SANS Incident Handler's Handbook and PICERL Methodology maps to 171 other compliance frameworks. The top mapping partners are South Korea ISMS-P (20% coverage), PSD2 SCA (18% coverage), ISO 22320:2018 (18% coverage). Use our comparison tool to explore control-level mappings between frameworks.
How do I implement SANS Incident Handler's Handbook and PICERL Methodology?
Start your SANS Incident Handler's Handbook and PICERL Methodology compliance journey by running a self-assessment on our platform to identify your current compliance posture. Our AI advisory can answer specific questions about SANS Incident Handler's Handbook and PICERL Methodology requirements, and cross-framework mapping helps you leverage existing controls from other frameworks you may already comply with. Create a free account to access all 40 controls and track your progress.
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