Infocomm TechnologyISCO 2529
Cyber incident responder
A cyber incident responder is a person who recognises breaches of system security, limits their effects and restores operation.
Check yourself in a minute: cyber incident responder
Rate 5 of the 22 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.
create incident reports
provide ICT consulting advice
handle cybersecurity incidents
engage with stakeholders
protect ICT devices
About cyber incident responder
The work starts before an incident. The responder monitors and assesses the state of cybersecurity systems, knows ICT network security threats and security standards, and knows operating systems well enough to read what happened on a machine. Events and incidents are logged.
When an incident occurs, the organisation's incident response plan applies. What does an incident responder do at that point? The responder analyses the event, assesses its reach and limits the damage: cutting off the affected part of the network, locking accounts, suspending a service. The root cause is established and the malicious actor identified, drawing on knowledge of attack methods, which is what ethical hacking principles provide. Evidence is gathered and every action documented in a form that will withstand a later audit or a legal process.
After restoring systems and process functions, the responder writes up what has to change so that the same thing does not recur, and runs risk management on that basis. Contact is maintained with stakeholders — management, departments, suppliers, and, where personal data was breached, the supervisory authority. National response teams receive incident reports under the cybersecurity legislation in force.
Key Work Functions
Core areas of responsibility for a cyber incident responder.
1
System Monitoring and Threat Detection
- Monitor and assess cybersecurity state of systems using security information and event management tools
- Detect intrusions, anomalies, and suspicious activities indicating potential security breaches
- Track and identify attack vectors and potential entry points for cybersecurity threats
- Implement and maintain building systems monitoring technology and security controls
2
Incident Analysis and Investigation
- Analyze, evaluate, and determine the scope and impact of cybersecurity incidents
- Identify malicious actors, attack signatures, and root causes of security incidents
- Collect and preserve digital evidence following forensic procedures and chain of custody
- Apply ethical hacking principles and techniques to understand attack methodologies
3
Incident Response and Mitigation
- Respond rapidly to security incidents following established Incident Response Plan
- Implement cyber attack counter-measures and containment strategies to limit damage
- Handle cybersecurity incidents by isolating affected systems and disconnecting from networks
- Identify operational tactics for emergency responses and execute crisis management procedures
4
System Restoration and Recovery
- Restore affected systems and process functionalities to operational state following incident resolution
- Verify system integrity and security posture before returning systems to production
- Implement security patches and updates to prevent recurrence of incidents
- Conduct post-incident reviews to identify lessons learned and improve future response
5
Documentation, Compliance, and Communication
- Create detailed incident reports documenting timeline, actions taken, and outcomes
- Ensure compliance with ICT security legislation, GDPR, and regulatory requirements
- Communicate with stakeholders, management, and external authorities about incident details and status
- Provide ICT consulting advice on security improvements and risk management strategies
European Skills Framework
Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.
Essential (22)
ICT safetyICT safetyPersonal protection, data protection, digital identity protection, security measures, safe and sustainable use.building systems monitoring technologybuilding systems monitoring technologyComputer-based control systems that monitor mechanical and electrical equipment in a building such as HVAC, security and lighting systems.ethical hacking principlesethical hacking principlesThe set of actions that are carried out to detect vulnerabilities within a computerised system in order to improve security within an organisation. They aim to identify and address data breaches and t...ICT network security risksICT network security risksThe security risk factors, such as hardware and software components, devices, interfaces and policies in ICT networks, risk assessment techniques that can be applied to assess the severity and the con...ICT security standardsICT security standardsBest practices and guidelines established for securing information and communication technology (ICT) systems and data. Standards as is the case of ISO 27000 series, provide a framework for implementi...operational tactics for emergency responsesoperational tactics for emergency responsesThe characteristics and proceedings of operational tactics for emergency responses especially at major incidents and catastrophes.attack vectorsattack vectorsPaths or methods that threat actors use to exploit vulnerabilities in information networks or systems from a concrete organisation and impact its availability, integrity and confidentiality. Attack ve...cyber attack counter-measurescyber attack counter-measuresMethods, technologies and techniques used to defend (detect, monitor and recover) against cyber attacks. These cyber attacks include several attack vectors such as malware, denial of service (DoS) att...risk managementrisk managementThe process of identifying, assessing, and prioritising of all types of risks and where they could come from, such as natural causes, legal changes, or uncertainty in any given context, and the method...security engineeringsecurity engineeringInterdisciplinary field of study that focuses on the realisation of secure systems and the technology to protect individuals or information from malice, errors, or unauthorized access. It involves def...ICT security legislationICT security legislationThe set of legislative rules that safeguards information technology, ICT networks and computer systems and legal consequences which result from their misuse. Regulated measures include firewalls, intr...GDPRGDPRThe General Data Protection Regulation is the EU regulation on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data.incidents and accidents recordingincidents and accidents recordingThe methods to report and record incidents and accidents in the workplace.operating systemsoperating systemsThe features, restrictions, architectures and other characteristics of operating systems such Linux, Windows, MacOS, etc.create incident reportscreate incident reportsFill in an incident report after an accident has happened at the company or facility, such as an unusual event which caused an occupational injury to a worker.provide ICT consulting adviceprovide ICT consulting adviceAdvise on appropriate solutions in the field of ICT by selecting alternatives and optimising decisions while taking into account potential risks, benefits and overall impact to professional customers.communicate with stakeholderscommunicate with stakeholdersFacilitate communication between organisations and interested third parties such as suppliers, distributors, shareholders and other stakeholders in order to inform them of the organisation and its obj...handle cybersecurity incidentshandle cybersecurity incidentsDetect, identify, analyze, and respond, to cybersecurity incidents in an organization's systems or network. It involves incident response plans such as intrusion detection systems, log analysis, and d...engage with stakeholdersengage with stakeholdersUse a variety of processes that result in mutually negotiated agreements, shared understandings and consensus building. Build partnerships within the work context.protect ICT devicesprotect ICT devicesProtect devices and digital content, and understand risks and threats in digital environments. Know about safety and security measures and have due regard to reliability and privacy. Make use of tools...collect cyber defence datacollect cyber defence dataCollect data for cyber defence using various data collection tools. Data may be gathered from a number of internal or external sources such as online trade records, DNS request logs, email servers' lo...cyber securitycyber securityThe methods and best practices that protect ICT systems, networks, computers, devices, services, processes and people against unauthorised access, modification and/or denial of service of assets.
Optional (51) — show
business intelligencebusiness intelligenceThe tools used to transform large amounts of raw data into relevant and helpful business information.defence standard proceduresdefence standard proceduresMethods and procedures typical for defence applications such as the NATO Standardization Agreements or STANAGs
Standard definitions of the processes, procedures, terms, and conditions for common milit...cloud security and compliancecloud security and complianceCloud security and compliance concepts, including shared responsibility model, cloud access management capabilities, and resources for security support.embedded systemsembedded systemsThe computer systems and components with a specialised and autonomous function within a larger system or machine such as embedded systems software architectures, embedded peripherals, design principle...safety engineeringsafety engineeringThe study of the risks associated with engineered designs and systems, accident prevention as well as the safety benefits of reducing deaths and injuries. The discipline focuses on analysing and mitig...internet governanceinternet governanceThe principles, regulations, norms and programs that shape the evolution and use of internet, such as internet domain names management, registries and registrars, according to ICANN/IANA regulations a...project managementproject managementThe discipline of project management, the activities which comprise this area and the variables implied in it, such as time, resources, requirements, deadlines, and responding to unexpected events.cloud monitoring and reportingcloud monitoring and reportingThe metrics and alarms utilizing cloud monitoring services, in particular performance and availability metrics.web application security threatsweb application security threatsThe attacks, vectors, emergent threats on websites, web applications and web services, the rankings of their severity identified by dedicated communities such as OWASP.C++C++The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in C++.cloud technologiescloud technologiesThe technologies which enable access to hardware, software, data and services through remote servers and software networks irrespective of their location and architecture.ICT project management methodologiesICT project management methodologiesThe methodologies or models for planning, managing and overseeing of ICT resources in order to meet specific goals, such methodologies are Waterfall, Incremental, V-Model, Scrum or Agile and using pro...Python (computer programming)Python (computer programming)The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in Python.ICT encryptionICT encryptionThe conversion of electronic data into a format which is readable only by authorized parties which use key encryption techniques, such as Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Secure Socket Layer (SSL).leadership principlesleadership principlesSet of traits and values which guide the actions of a leader with her/his employees and the company and provide direction throughout her/his career. These principles are also an important tool for sel...Process-based managementProcess-based managementThe process-based management approach is a methodology for planning, managing and overseeing of ICT resources in order to meet specific goals and using project management ICT tools.lean project managementlean project managementThe lean project management approach is a methodology for planning, managing and overseeing of ICT resources in order to meet specific goals and using project management ICT tools.Internet of ThingsInternet of ThingsThe general principles, categories, requirements, limitations and vulnerabilities of smart connected devices (most of them with intended internet connectivity).ICT process quality modelsICT process quality modelsThe quality models for ICT services which address the maturity of the processes, the adoption of recommended practices and their definition and institutionalisation that allow the organisation to reli...manage IT security compliancesmanage IT security compliancesGuide application and fulfilment of relevant industry standards, best practices and legal requirements for information security.manage ICT change request processmanage ICT change request processSpecify the incentive for an ICT change request, stating which adjustment in the system needs to be accomplished and execute or supervise the execution of it.implement ICT security policiesimplement ICT security policiesImplement statements, assertions or rules that specify the appropriate use and protection of the ICT assets and systems from an organisation. These ICT security policies cover topics such as data clas...perform risk analysisperform risk analysisIdentify and assess factors that may jeopardise the success of a project or threaten the organisation's functioning. Implement procedures to avoid or minimise their impact.manage changes in ICT systemmanage changes in ICT systemPlan, realise and monitor system changes and upgrades. Maintain earlier system versions. Revert, if necessary, to a safe older system version.create project specificationscreate project specificationsDefine the workplan, duration, deliverables, resources and procedures a project has to follow to achieve its goals. Describe project goals, outcomes, results and implementation scenarios.troubleshoottroubleshootIdentify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.protect personal data and privacyprotect personal data and privacyProtect personal data and privacy in digital environments. Understand how to use and share personally identifiable information while being able to protect oneself and others from damages. Understand t...develop information security strategydevelop information security strategyCreate company strategy related to the safety and security of information in order to maximise information integrity, availability and data privacy.provide user documentationprovide user documentationDevelop and organise the distribution of structured documents to assist people using a particular product or system, such as written or visual information about an application system and how to use it...optimise choice of ICT solutionoptimise choice of ICT solutionSelect the appropriate solutions in the field of ICT while taking into account potential risks, benefits and overall impact.perform scientific researchperform scientific researchGain, correct or improve knowledge about phenomena by using scientific methods and techniques, based on empirical or measurable observations.define quality standardsdefine quality standardsDefine, in collaboration with managers and quality experts, a set of quality standards to ensure compliance with regulations and help achieve customers' requirements.ensure information securityensure information securityEnsure that the information gathered during surveillance or investigations remains in the hands of those authorised to receive and use it, and does not fall into enemy or otherwise non-authorised indi...implement ICT risk managementimplement ICT risk managementDevelop and implement procedures for identifying, assessing, treating and mitigating ICT risks, such as hacks or data leaks, according to the company's risk strategy, procedures and policies. Analyse ...provide informationprovide informationEnsure quality and correctness of provided information, depending on the type of audience and context.remove computer virus or malware from a computerremove computer virus or malware from a computerCarry out actions to remove computer viruses or other types of malware from a computer.track key performance indicatorstrack key performance indicatorsIdentify the quantifiable measures that a company or industry uses to gauge or compare performance in terms of meeting their operational and strategic goals, using preset performance indicators.monitor system performancemonitor system performanceMeasure system reliability and performance before, during and after component integration and during system operation and maintenance. Select and use performance monitoring tools and techniques, such ...consult with business clientsconsult with business clientsCommunicate with clients of a business or business project in order to introduce new ideas, obtain feedback, and find solutions to problems.implement anti-virus softwareimplement anti-virus softwareDownload, install and update software to prevent, detect and remove malicious software, such as computer viruses.manage digital identitymanage digital identityCreate and manage one or multiple digital identities, be able to protect one's own reputation, deal with the data that one produces through several digital tools, environments and services.ensure proper document managementensure proper document managementGuarantee that the tracking and recording standards and rules for document management are followed, such as ensuring that changes are identified, that documents remain readable and that obsoleted docu...implement spam protectionimplement spam protectionInstall and configure software that supports email-users to filter messages that contain malware or that are unsolicited.give live presentationgive live presentationDeliver a speech or talk in which a new product, service, idea, or piece of work is demonstrated and explained to an audience.manage a teammanage a teamEnsure clear and effective channels of communication across all departments within the organisation and support functions, both internally and externally ensuring that the team is aware of the standar...perform project managementperform project managementManage and plan various resources, such as human resources, budget, deadline, results, and quality necessary for a specific project, and monitor the project's progress in order to achieve a specific g...lead disaster recovery exerciseslead disaster recovery exercisesHead exercises which educate people on what to do in case of an unforeseen disastrous event in the functioning or security of ICT systems, such as on recovery of data, protection of identity and infor...implement a firewallimplement a firewallDownload, install and update a network security system designed to prevent unauthorized access to a private network.manage keys for data protectionmanage keys for data protectionSelect appropriate authentication and authorization mechanisms. Design, implement and troubleshoot key management and use. Design and implement a data encryption solution for data at rest and data in ...copyright legislationcopyright legislationLegislation describing the protection of the rights of original authors over their work, and how others can use it.implement a virtual private networkimplement a virtual private networkCreate an encrypted connection between private networks, such as different local networks of a company, over the internet to ensure that only authorized users can access it and that the data cannot be...
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Frequently asked questions
What does a cyber incident responder do?
Cyber incident responders monitor and assess cybersecurity state systems, analysing, evaluating, and mitigating the impact of cybersecurity incidents. Moreover, they identify malicious actors and cyber incidents root causes. According to the organisation’s Incident Response Plan, they restore systems and process functionalities to an operational state, collecting evidence and documenting actions taken.
What skills does a cyber incident responder need?
A cyber incident responder needs 22 essential skills, including ICT safety, building systems monitoring technology, ethical hacking principles, ICT network security risks, ICT security standards.
Will AI replace cyber incident responder jobs?
The AI disruption score for cyber incident responder is 68/100 (high risk). Skills most exposed to automation: track key performance indicators, implement anti-virus software, incidents and accidents recording. Most resilient: operational tactics for emergency responses, internet governance, engage with stakeholders.
AI Replacement Risk
68/ 100
High Risk
Low riskHigh risk
Skills most at risk from AI
Skills resilient to automation
This is the average for the whole occupation. The AI Career Shield test (about 10 minutes) shows the risk in your own work and what you can do about it.
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SectorInfocomm Technology
ISCO GroupInformation and communications technology professionals
Essential Skills22
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