Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: HSM • Social Engineering • Security Metrics

Incident Response

Term from Information Security industry explained for recruiters

Incident Response is like being a digital first responder for computer and network emergencies. When companies face cyber attacks, data breaches, or other security problems, Incident Response teams step in to handle the situation. Think of them as the cyber equivalent of firefighters – they assess the threat, contain the damage, fix the problem, and help prevent it from happening again. This role is becoming increasingly important as more businesses face cyber threats. Similar terms include "Computer Security Incident Response" or "Cybersecurity Incident Handling."

Examples in Resumes

Led Incident Response team during major ransomware attack, reducing system downtime by 60%

Created and maintained Incident Response playbooks for various security scenarios

Managed IR team handling 200+ security Incident Response cases annually

Implemented CSIRT (Computer Security Incident Response Team) procedures across multiple departments

Typical job title: "Incident Response Analysts"

Also try searching for:

Incident Response Analyst Security Incident Handler CSIRT Analyst Cybersecurity Incident Responder Information Security Analyst Cyber Defense Analyst Security Operations Analyst

Where to Find Incident Response Analysts

Professional Organizations

• SANS Institute
• FIRST (Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams)
• ISACA

Online Communities

Job Resources

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you handle a large-scale ransomware attack affecting multiple company locations?

Expected Answer: Should demonstrate leadership abilities, explain prioritization of critical systems, coordination with different departments, and show knowledge of containment and recovery strategies. Should mention communication with management and legal teams.

Q: How would you improve an existing incident response program?

Expected Answer: Should discuss assessment of current procedures, implementing metrics, regular testing and drills, team training, and staying current with new threats and response techniques.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What steps would you take when responding to a potential data breach?

Expected Answer: Should outline the basic incident response steps: identification, containment, eradication, recovery, and lessons learned. Should mention documentation and evidence collection.

Q: How do you prioritize multiple security incidents?

Expected Answer: Should explain how to assess impact and urgency, mention business impact considerations, and demonstrate knowledge of triage procedures.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What is an incident response plan and why is it important?

Expected Answer: Should explain that it's a documented set of procedures for detecting, responding to, and limiting the effects of security incidents. Should mention the importance of having organized procedures during emergencies.

Q: What information would you collect when documenting a security incident?

Expected Answer: Should mention basic incident details like time, date, affected systems, actions taken, and maintaining chain of custody for evidence.