Using incident handling metrics to prevent future incidents requires a systematic and proactive approach. Not only should you collect and report your metrics, but use them to identify and address gaps, weaknesses, and opportunities in your incident handling process. Metrics should also be used to inform and improve your IT strategy, policies, and practices. To use incident handling metrics to prevent future incidents, you should perform root cause analysis, implement corrective and preventive actions, share and learn from best practices, and align and integrate with your IT strategy. Root cause analysis should involve identifying the underlying causes and contributing factors of incidents, as well as looking for patterns that can indicate systemic or emerging issues. Corrective and preventive actions should include determining the appropriate actions to eliminate or reduce the root causes of incidents, while considering the potential risks and benefits, as well as the resources and time required. Sharing and learning from best practices involves identifying the best practices of incident handling processes, seeking feedback from stakeholders and peers, updating procedures, guidelines, and tools. Aligning with your IT strategy involves aligning incident handling process with IT strategy objectives and priorities, while also supporting IT governance, risk management, and compliance functions.