An incident response plan is a structured approach that organizations use to prepare for, detect, and respond to cybersecurity incidents. This plan outlines the roles and responsibilities of team members, the steps to take during an incident, and the communication protocols to follow. It aims to minimize damage, reduce recovery time, and ensure that the organization can return to normal operations as quickly as possible. The plan typically includes phases such as preparation, detection and analysis, containment, eradication, and recovery. Regular training and simulations are essential to ensure that all team members are familiar with their roles and can act swiftly when an incident occurs.