View source for Definition:Incident response

🚨 '''Incident response''' is the organized process by which a company detects, contains, investigates, and recovers from a security breach or disruptive event — most commonly a [[Definition:Cyber risk | cyber incident]] such as a [[Definition:Ransomware | ransomware]] attack, data exfiltration, or system compromise. In the insurance context, it also refers to the suite of expert services that a [[Definition:Cyber insurance | cyber insurance]] policy typically provides or reimburses, transforming the carrier from a passive claims payer into an active partner in crisis management.

⚙️ Most cyber policies embed an incident-response panel — a pre-approved roster of [[Definition:Breach counsel | breach counsel]], [[Definition:Digital forensics | forensic investigators]], [[Definition:Public relations | crisis-communications consultants]], [[Definition:Credit monitoring | credit-monitoring]] vendors, and [[Definition:Notification service | notification service providers]] — that the [[Definition:Policyholder | insured]] can activate through a 24/7 hotline the moment an incident is suspected. Breach counsel typically quarterbacks the engagement, directing forensic analysis under [[Definition:Attorney-client privilege | legal privilege]] to protect findings from later discovery in litigation. The [[Definition:Insurance carrier | carrier]] funds these services under the policy's [[Definition:First-party coverage | first-party]] insuring agreements, subject to the [[Definition:Deductible | deductible]] and [[Definition:Policy limit | sub-limits]] outlined in the policy. Speed is paramount: studies consistently show that the cost and reputational damage of a breach escalate sharply with every hour that containment is delayed.

🔑 For [[Definition:Underwriter | underwriters]], a prospective insured's incident-response readiness is one of the strongest predictors of future [[Definition:Insurance claim | claim]] severity. Companies that maintain tested response plans, conduct regular tabletop exercises, and have retainer agreements with forensic firms tend to contain breaches faster and incur lower losses. Carriers increasingly incentivize this preparedness through [[Definition:Premium | premium]] credits or enhanced policy terms, creating a virtuous cycle in which the insurance product itself drives better security hygiene — a dynamic that distinguishes cyber insurance from most other [[Definition:Insurance coverage | lines of coverage]].

'''Related concepts'''
{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Definition:Cyber insurance]]
* [[Definition:Ransomware]]
* [[Definition:Data breach]]
* [[Definition:Digital forensics]]
* [[Definition:Breach counsel]]
* [[Definition:First-party coverage]]
{{Div col end}}