How do you define and assign incident response team roles in your organization?

1 Incident response team structure

An incident response team (IRT) is a group of people who are responsible for responding to security incidents in a timely and effective manner. The size and composition of an IRT may vary depending on the nature, scope, and impact of the incident, as well as the resources and capabilities of the organization. However, a typical IRT structure consists of four main roles: leader, coordinator, responder, and communicator.

2 Leader role

The leader is the person who has the authority and accountability for the overall incident response process. The leader sets the goals, priorities, and strategies for the IRT, and oversees the execution and evaluation of the response actions. The leader also liaises with senior management, external stakeholders, and regulatory authorities, and ensures compliance with legal and ethical obligations. The leader should have strong leadership, decision-making, and communication skills, as well as a broad knowledge of the organization's business and security objectives.

3 Coordinator role

The coordinator is the person who facilitates the coordination and collaboration among the IRT members and other relevant parties. The coordinator assigns tasks, monitors progress, tracks resources, resolves conflicts, and reports status to the leader and other stakeholders. The coordinator also maintains the incident documentation, logs, and evidence, and ensures that they are properly secured and preserved. The coordinator should have good organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills, as well as a familiarity with the organization's policies and procedures.

4 Responder role

The responder is the person who performs the technical and operational tasks related to the incident response. The responder identifies, analyzes, contains, eradicates, and recovers from the incident, using the appropriate tools and techniques. The responder also collects and preserves the digital evidence, and supports the investigation and remediation efforts. The responder should have a high level of technical expertise, experience, and certification in the relevant domains, such as network, system, malware, or forensic analysis.

5 Communicator role

The communicator is the person who handles the communication and information sharing aspects of the incident response. The communicator develops and delivers the messages and updates to the internal and external audiences, such as employees, customers, partners, media, or public. The communicator also manages the reputation and crisis management issues, and provides guidance and education on the incident prevention and response best practices. The communicator should have excellent verbal and written communication skills, as well as a knowledge of the organization's culture and values.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?