#71: Incident Response Plan Essentials

Welcome back to Cash in the Cyber Sheets, where we talk about the messy, practical, and sometimes painfully honest side of cybersecurity. In this episode, we’re tackling a challenge that every organization faces sooner or later: creating and managing an Incident Response Plan (IRP).

On paper, an IRP is simple. It’s your guidebook for what to do when, not if, a cyber incident occurs. But in reality, too many organizations stall out before they even get one in place. Why? Because they try to make it perfect from day one. They load it with every possible scenario, every escalation path, and every technical control, until the whole thing collapses under its own complexity. The tragic irony is that while chasing perfection, they end up with nothing. And when ransomware hits, “nothing” is not the strategy you want to be stuck with.

This episode challenges that mindset. Instead of shooting for the flawless IRP, we explore how focusing on just a few quick hits can set the foundation you actually need. Think of it as building your IRP in layers. Start with the essentials: Who’s on the response team? How do you contact them? What’s the first step when malware shows up or a phishing attack lands? If you can answer those questions, you already have a plan that’s better than the blank page staring back at you.

From there, the plan grows organically. You test it. You add detail. You refine as you learn. But even the “bare bones” version can guide you through those first chaotic hours of an incident. It might not be perfect, but it’s practical, and practicality is what saves businesses in the real world.

We also discuss why momentum matters more than perfection. By starting small, you create confidence. You give your team something they can use, and you avoid the paralysis that kills so many initiatives. Over time, the plan becomes more robust, but from day one, you’re already better prepared.

If you’ve been stuck in IRP limbo, this episode is your roadmap out. You’ll hear why less can truly be more, and how to avoid letting “perfect” be the enemy of “good enough to get started.” We’ll leave you with actionable advice and a nudge to finally put pen to paper, because even a short, imperfect plan can help steer your business through the storm.