An effective incident response program starts with well-defined policies and procedures that guide every action, role, and escalation during a security event. In this episode, we explore the components of an incident response policy—covering scope, roles, definitions, response timelines, and classification levels. We then break down procedures into practical, step-by-step actions that teams follow from detection through recovery. This includes activation of the response team, initial triage, evidence collection, internal and external communication, and formal documentation of all actions. We emphasize how these procedures must be tested regularly and customized for your environment, ensuring they reflect not only technical realities but also business priorities and compliance requirements. Without clear policy and procedural structure, response efforts can become chaotic or incomplete—leaving organizations exposed to further damage, liability, or regulatory failure.