Auditing the system and network log files is a crucial step in the incident triage phase of the incident response and handling process. During incident triage, incident handlers assess and prioritize incidents based on their severity, impact, and the urgency of the response required. Part of this assessment involves reviewing log files to understand the nature of the incident, its scope, and the systems or networks affected. This information helps in categorizing the incident and deciding on the appropriate response actions. Unlike containment, which aims to limit the damage, incident disclosure, which involves communicating about the incident, or incident eradication, which focuses on removing the threat, incident triage is about evaluating and prioritizing the incident based on detailed log analysis among other factors.References:The Incident Handler (ECIH v3) courses and study guides emphasize the role of incident triage in the early stages of the incident response process, highlighting the importance of log file analysis in assessing and prioritizing incidents.

Setting up a computer forensics lab involves several critical steps that need to be executed in a logical and efficient order. The correct sequence starts with planning and budgeting(2), as it is essential to understand the scope, resources, and financial commitment required for the lab. The next step involves considering the physical location and structural design (1) to ensure the lab meets operational needs and security requirements.
Work area considerations (3) follow, focusing on the layout and functionality of the workspace. Human resource considerations (6) are crucial next, to ensure the lab is staffed with qualified personnel. Physical security recommendations (4) are then implemented to protect the lab and its resources. Finally, forensic lab licensing (5) ensures the lab operates within legal and regulatory frameworks.
References:The ECIH v3 course materials from EC-Council outline the foundational steps for setting up a computer forensics lab, stressing the importance of thorough planning and adherence to best practices in lab design and operation.

Volatile data refers to information that is stored temporarily and is lost when a computer is turned off or restarted, such as RAM contents, including open sockets and open ports, the date and time of the system, and the state of the network interface. The creation dates of files, however, are considered non-volatile data because they are preserved on the hard drive and remain available after the system is restarted or turned off.
Non-volatile data is stored on persistent storage mediums like hard drives, SSDs, and magnetic tapes, where it remains until it is deleted or overwritten.References:The Incident Handler (ECIH v3) certification emphasizes the distinction between volatile and non-volatile data in the context of digital forensics and incident response, highlighting the importance of understanding what data may be lost upon system shutdown and what data persists.