What is a security incident response playbook?

A security incident response playbook is a documented plan that outlines the specific steps to take when responding to various types of security incidents. It serves as a practical guide for security teams during incidents such as data breaches, malware infections, or insider threats. The playbook typically details procedures for identification, containment, eradication, recovery, and lessons learned, ensuring that the response is effective, efficient, and consistent.

This kind of structured approach is crucial because it allows organizations to act quickly and decisively during an incident, minimizing potential damage and ensuring that all team members are aware of their roles and responsibilities. By having a well-defined playbook, organizations can streamline their incident response processes and improve their overall cybersecurity posture.

The other options do not align with the definition of a security incident response playbook. While employee training in security protocols is essential, it falls under a different aspect of cybersecurity training and awareness. Publications on the latest security technologies provide information on advancements and trends, but they do not focus on incident response. Financial reports concerning response costs are important for budgeting and resource allocation but do not provide the systematic approach for managing security incidents that a playbook offers.