Why Most Incident Response Plans Fail — And What to Do Instead
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Episode Summary:
Most companies have an incident response plan, but very few have one that actually works at 2 in the morning when everything goes sideways. In this episode, Mike Fitzpatrick breaks down the real reasons IR plans fail, why untested playbooks become liabilities, and how CEOs can turn a paper plan into a real business protection strategy.
Drawing on recent industry research and 24 years in cybersecurity, Mike explains why people and communication—not technology—determine the outcome of an incident. He also shares how unclear roles, bad assumptions, and untested processes turn small problems into multimillion-dollar disasters.
If you are a CEO, business owner, or executive who believes your company “has a plan,” this episode will challenge you—in a good way.
What You’ll Learn:
• Why untested IR plans create false confidence
• The number one reason incidents drag on: lack of clear authority
• How communication breakdowns cause more damage than the breach itself
• What recent vendor outages taught every business about fragility
• Why incident response is a financial issue, not a technical one
• What leaders must put in place long before an incident occurs
Who This Episode Is For:
CEOs, business owners, CIOs, CISOs, CFOs, and anyone responsible for keeping a company operational during crisis events.
Connect With Mike Fitzpatrick and NCX Group:
LinkedIn: NCX Group on LinkedIn
NCX Group Website: NCX Group
Free Cyber Risk Readiness Assessment: Risk
Bite Size Security Newsletter: NCX Group on LinkedIn
If this episode helped you see your own readiness differently, share it with another business owner or leader. One conversation could save them millions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an incident response plan?
An incident response plan is a documented strategy outlining how an organization will respond to cybersecurity incidents.
Why do incident response plans often fail?
They often fail due to untested playbooks, unclear roles, and poor communication among team members.
How can CEOs improve their incident response plans?
CEOs can improve plans by ensuring regular testing, clear communication, and defining roles within the incident response team.
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