What is the purpose of a security incident response plan?

What is the purpose of a security incident response plan?

• A. Procedures to detect, investigate, and respond to security incidents to minimize impact.
• B. A plan for recovering from natural disasters.
• C. A policy for managing software licenses.
• D. A set of guidelines for user passwords.

Answer: (A)

A security incident response plan is about having a structured, repeatable way to handle security events from start to finish so the organization can limit damage and recover quickly. It guides how to detect when something is wrong, who should investigate and how to triage the issue, how to contain the threat to prevent further harm, how to remove the threat, and how to restore normal operations. It also covers documenting what happened, preserving evidence for forensics, communicating with stakeholders and regulators as needed, and reviewing the incident afterward to improve defenses. This is distinct from plans or policies that deal with other areas. A plan for recovering from natural disasters focuses on business continuity and IT restoration after physical or environmental disruptions, not exclusively on cyber threats. A policy for managing software licenses governs licensing compliance rather than response to security events. A set of guidelines for user passwords addresses access controls and password hygiene, not the steps taken when a security incident occurs.

A security incident response plan is about having a structured, repeatable way to handle security events from start to finish so the organization can limit damage and recover quickly. It guides how to detect when something is wrong, who should investigate and how to triage the issue, how to contain the threat to prevent further harm, how to remove the threat, and how to restore normal operations. It also covers documenting what happened, preserving evidence for forensics, communicating with stakeholders and regulators as needed, and reviewing the incident afterward to improve defenses.

This is distinct from plans or policies that deal with other areas. A plan for recovering from natural disasters focuses on business continuity and IT restoration after physical or environmental disruptions, not exclusively on cyber threats. A policy for managing software licenses governs licensing compliance rather than response to security events. A set of guidelines for user passwords addresses access controls and password hygiene, not the steps taken when a security incident occurs.