What does the term "Incident Response" refer to?

The term "Incident Response" specifically refers to the systematic approach an organization takes to manage the aftermath of a security breach or cyberattack. This process involves identifying, containing, eradicating, and recovering from the incident while aiming to minimize damage and reduce recovery time and costs. An effective incident response plan also includes lessons learned to improve future security measures and response strategies.

The focus of incident response is not merely on preventing intrusions or conducting ongoing monitoring, although those aspects are crucial for overall security posture. Instead, it emphasizes reactive measures after a security incident has occurred, which is pivotal for safeguarding an organization's data integrity and continuity. It also does not encompass the ongoing practice of vulnerability assessments, which is part of a proactive security strategy rather than a response mechanism following an incident.