Who is responsible for approving an incident response policy?

The approval of an incident response policy is primarily the responsibility of senior management. This is because the incident response policy outlines how an organization plans to address and manage security incidents, which can have significant implications for the organization’s operational capacity, reputation, and overall risk posture.

Senior management is in a pivotal position to acknowledge the importance of cybersecurity and allocate resources to implement the policy effectively. Their approval signifies a commitment to prioritize incident response efforts and ensure that the policy aligns with the organization’s broader business objectives and risk management strategies.

In contrast, while a security manager may develop and propose the incident response policy, they generally do not have the authority to make final decisions regarding policy approval. Investors typically do not get involved in the day-to-day operational policies unless they directly impact financial outcomes. (ISC)² is a certification body that provides training and support for professionals in the field, but it does not have governance over an organization’s internal policies.