What is an incident response plan (IRP)?

The correct choice defines an incident response plan (IRP) as a documented plan for security incident response. An IRP is essential in the field of information security as it outlines the procedures and guidelines for responding to a cybersecurity incident effectively and efficiently. This plan typically includes the roles and responsibilities of the incident response team, the processes to identify and analyze incidents, communication strategies, and steps for recovery and reporting.

Having a formal IRP helps organizations minimize the impact of security breaches, reduces recovery time, and ensures that all personnel understand their responsibilities during an incident. It serves as a critical tool in an organization's overall risk management strategy, ensuring that response efforts are coordinated and thorough.

In contrast, the other answers do not pertain to incident response. Auditing employee performance, financial analysis, and marketing communications do not relate to the specific need for a structured approach to handling security incidents, making them less relevant in the context of information security management.