What is a security incident response team (IRT)?

A security incident response team (IRT) is specifically designed to prepare for, detect, and respond to security incidents within an organization. This team is crucial for maintaining an organization's cybersecurity posture and is actively engaged in various phases of incident management. They conduct planning and preparation for potential incidents, continuously monitor for security threats, and take action when incidents occur to mitigate damage and restore normal operations.

The focus of the IRT encompasses detailed analysis, coordination among various departments, and adherence to predefined protocols to effectively handle security breaches or threats. Their responsibilities often include incident detection and analysis, containment and eradication of threats, recovery processes, and lessons learned post-incident to improve future responses.

In contrast, groups that focus on training staff or managing IT resources have different objectives and do not encompass the broad and specialized functions that an IRT performs. Similarly, a group dedicated to software development operates in a completely different domain, focusing on creating and maintaining software rather than dealing directly with security incident management. Thus, the correct answer reflects the specialized and proactive nature of the role that an incident response team plays in cybersecurity.