Every incident is unique. The response team that is formed will also need to be different. Companies have different needs based on regulatory requirements and the industry they work in. This means that there will not be two incident response teams that are the same. For example, you will have teams that consist of two people and others that are made up of a dozen people.
However, all effective response teams will be able to identify, stop and successfully resolve incidents. The response team should also educate, communicate, and research security response methods. The policies and procedures that are created by security teams to create incident response plans should guide the company’s overall attitude towards safety and security.
It is essential to establish a response team and understand each member’s responsibilities in order to quickly resolve security issues. Let’s talk about the best practices for forming an incident response group.
What is a Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSISRT)?
A CSIRT is a group of security professionals that work together to prevent cyberattacks on a company. Modern businesses have CSIRTs as an integral part of their operations. This is due to the migration of business transactions and communications to online and digital media.
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Start training. There is no standard structure for a CSIRT. Each organization will have its own structures when it comes to roles and team members. This is a popular structure:
Managerial Role – This role is responsible to coordinate the CSIRT and relay information to the rest the executive suite. They are familiar with the technical requirements of the business and can acquire the skills, tools, and training they need to run their CSIRT. They also update and create the Incident Response Plan in response to changes in the business or cyber attacks. Other functions include procedure creation and documentation. They also keep track of meeting minutes and major decisions about cybersecurity. It is a stressful job that carries a lot of responsibility. This requires both technical knowledge and managerial skills.

Technical Manager/Technical Leader: This is a hands on role that requires practice, continuous learning, and solid hands-on experience. This role is the technical pillar for the team and is often a multidisciplinary champion of security issues. The technical lead must have a deep understanding of the environment and the weaknesses that could be found. Depending on the organization’s size and budget, this role could be filled either by one individual or many. This role reports to the CSIRT manager, who then presents the technical ramifications to the management team as an executive summary.

CSIRT Member: These members are the frontline workers for the team. They are responsible to monitor potential incidents and escalate them when a breach or security problem arises. They are more likely to have direct contact with customers and end users, which means they are also responsible for enforcing cybersecurity best practices. They can also make solid recommendations regarding security concerns and new threats.

These roles help us understand how the team should work when dealing with incidents. These roles may have additional responsibilities, which may involve other departments. This could be when there is a legal requirement that requires the legal team or appointed attorney to act. A ‘floating’ role may also exist that falls on the person who is responsible for an incident, such as Crisis Manager or Incident Comma.