Final answer:
An incident response policy should delineate priorities and procedures for an IT team to manage security incidents effectively. It outlines roles, and actions like containment, eradication, recovery, and communication, ensuring systematic incident management to protect the organization.
Step-by-step explanation:
An organization should have a clear set of policies and procedures for incident response priorities to effectively manage and mitigate IT security incidents. Such a policy, ideally part of a larger incident response plan (IRP), should articulate the sequence of actions the IT team must take when an incident occurs, with the primary goal of minimizing impact and restoring normal operations as quickly as possible.
For example, a policy may state that the priority is to contain the incident to prevent further spread. This would directly affect security analysts and IT support staff who must immediately work to isolate affected systems. A detailed procedure might include steps such as disconnecting infected machines from the network, stopping compromised services, or revoking access rights. Subsequent priorities could involve eradicating the root cause of the incident, recovering systems, and communicating with stakeholders affected by the disruption.
Such a policy ensures that team members have clear roles and responsibilities, reduces confusion during high-pressure situations, and aligns with overall security objectives to protect the organization's assets and reputation.