Security incidents impact every part of an organization, not just IT. Companies that respond effectively are the ones that anticipate risks, plan ahead, and coordinate across departments—not just those that rely on technical teams to “fix the problem.”

Organizations that detect incidents early and execute a competent, well-practiced response have greater control over how events unfold.

Everyone Gets Hacked. Are You Prepared?

A strong incident response strategy begins with understanding how security incidents are perceived within your organization. Ask yourself:

• Are security incidents viewed as IT problems or as business-wide risks requiring cross-functional coordination?
• Does your organization understand the full impact of a security event, including customer trust, regulatory scrutiny, and legal exposure?
• Beyond technical remediation, are there clear plans for internal and external communications, compliance obligations, and legal responses?

Security Incidents Affect the Entire Organization

A data breach, ransomware attack, or cyber intrusion doesn’t just affect IT—it impacts:

• Customer support, as teams handle an influx of questions and concerns
• Legal and compliance, as regulators and law enforcement get involved
• Public relations, as the media scrutinizes the response
• Investor confidence, as stakeholders assess the company’s ability to manage risks
• Employee morale, as uncertainty and misinformation spread internally

A cohesive, organization-wide response is critical to containing damage and preserving trust.

Core Incident Response Team: Assemble!

Your Core Incident Response Team (CIRT) should include:

• Engineering and security leaders responsible for remediation
• Legal and compliance teams managing regulatory obligations
• Communications specialists handling public messaging
• Executive leadership ensuring alignment with business strategy

Building this team before an incident occurs allows members to establish working relationships, refine coordination strategies, and strengthen decision-making processes. Regular interaction and training sessions between these groups are key to a seamless, efficient response when an incident happens.

Are You Ready?

If your current security response plan relies solely on IT or engineering teams, your organization isn’t fully prepared. A well-rounded strategy requires a structured, cross-functional team that understands security incidents as business-wide events with long-term consequences.

EPSD Can Help

EPSD helps organizations build, assess, and strengthen their incident response capabilities to ensure coordinated, effective action when security events occur. Contact us today to improve your incident preparedness.