Defining Computer Security Incident Response Teams
• SEI Report
Publisher
Software Engineering Institute
Topic or Tag
Abstract
A computer security incident response team (CSIRT) is a concrete organizational entity (i.e., one or more staff) that is assigned the responsibility for coordinating and supporting the response to a computer security event or incident. CSIRTs can be created for nation states or economies, governments, commercial organizations, educational institutions, and even non-profit entities. The goal of a CSIRT is to minimize and control the damage resulting from incidents, provide effective guidance for response and recovery activities, and work to prevent future incidents from happening.
Cite This SEI Report
Ruefle, R. (2007, January 24). Defining Computer Security Incident Response Teams. Retrieved August 10, 2026, from https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/defining-computer-security-incident-response-teams/.
@techreport{ruefle_2007,
author={Ruefle, Robin},
title={Defining Computer Security Incident Response Teams},
month={Jan},
year={2007},
institution={Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University},
url={https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/defining-computer-security-incident-response-teams/},
note={Accessed: 2026-Aug-10}
}
Ruefle, Robin. "Defining Computer Security Incident Response Teams." Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, January 24, 2007. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/defining-computer-security-incident-response-teams/.
R. Ruefle, "Defining Computer Security Incident Response Teams," Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, 24-Jan-2007 [Online]. Available: https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/defining-computer-security-incident-response-teams/. [Accessed: 10-Aug-2026].
Ruefle, Robin. "Defining Computer Security Incident Response Teams." Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Software Engineering Institute, 24 Jan. 2007. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/defining-computer-security-incident-response-teams/. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.
Ruefle, Robin. Defining Computer Security Incident Response Teams. Software Engineering Institute. 2007. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/defining-computer-security-incident-response-teams/