Questions: A large retail company notified its incident response team in response to a recent security incident. The team then activated the incident response plan (IRP) and business continuity plan (BCP). After they resolved the incident, they conducted a lessons-learned review. What is the purpose of an incident response plan (IRP) and business continuity plan ( BCP ) in cybersecurity incident response and management? - To conduct a forensic analysis of the incident to determine the root cause and identify the responsible party - To restore affected systems and data to their preincident state - To provide a step-by-step guide on how to respond to a security incident and ensure the continuity of critical business functions - To educate employees on how to prevent and respond to future security incidents

The answer is the third one: To provide a step-by-step guide on how to respond to a security incident and ensure the continuity of critical business functions.

Explanation for each option:

• To conduct a forensic analysis of the incident to determine the root cause and identify the responsible party: This is not the primary purpose of an IRP or BCP. While forensic analysis may be part of the incident response process, the IRP and BCP are more focused on response and continuity rather than investigation.

• To restore affected systems and data to their preincident state: This is a part of the incident response process, but it is not the main purpose of the IRP or BCP. The IRP and BCP are broader in scope, focusing on response procedures and maintaining business operations.

• To provide a step-by-step guide on how to respond to a security incident and ensure the continuity of critical business functions: This is the correct answer. The IRP provides detailed procedures for responding to incidents, while the BCP ensures that critical business functions can continue or be quickly restored in the event of a disruption.

• To educate employees on how to prevent and respond to future security incidents: While education and training are important components of a comprehensive security strategy, they are not the primary focus of the IRP or BCP. These plans are more about response and continuity rather than prevention and education.

In summary, the primary purpose of an incident response plan and a business continuity plan is to guide the organization in effectively responding to security incidents and ensuring that critical business functions can continue or be restored promptly.