What is an incident response plan (IRP)?

An incident response plan (IRP) is a documented process designed to address and manage the aftermath of a security incident or breach. Its primary purpose is to effectively respond to incidents in a way that limits damage, reduces recovery time and costs, and mitigates the impact of the incident on the organization. An IRP outlines specific steps to take in various scenarios, ensuring that all team members understand their responsibilities and actions required during an incident. This includes preparation, detection, analysis, containment, eradication, recovery, and lessons learned.

While other options mention important elements related to security practices, they do not define an IRP accurately. Guidelines for secure coding focus on preventing vulnerabilities during the software development process, a monthly report on security threats pertains to ongoing monitoring and awareness rather than incident response, and tools for scanning vulnerabilities assist in identifying potential security weaknesses but do not address response strategies when incidents occur. Thus, a well-structured IRP is essential for organizations to effectively manage security incidents and protect their assets.