Incident Response Planning: ROI of Being Prepared
Incident response planning is one of the most underappreciated security investments. The financial data strongly supports having a tested plan and a pre-negotiated retainer with an IR firm.
The Numbers
IBM's 2025 Cost of a Data Breach report found that organisations with incident response plans and regular testing saved $1.49 million per breach compared to those without. Organisations with IR retainers contained breaches 54 days faster on average.
The cost of an IR retainer typically ranges from $40K to $100K annually. Against potential savings of over $1M per incident, the ROI is compelling even for organisations that only experience one significant incident every few years.
What an IR Retainer Provides
- Pre-negotiated rates locked in before an incident (emergency rates are 2-3x higher)
- Guaranteed response times — critical when every hour of breach containment matters
- Familiarity with your environment before an incident occurs
- Access to specialist capabilities (forensics, legal, communications) on demand
Beyond the Retainer
The retainer itself is only part of the equation. Regular tabletop exercises ensure that internal teams know their roles during an incident. Organisations that test their IR plans at least annually contain breaches significantly faster than those with untested plans.