Which of the following is a key component often included in an incident response plan?

The inclusion of roles and responsibilities of the incident response team is a crucial component of an incident response plan. This clarity ensures that each team member knows their specific duties and the extent of their authority during an incident. Clearly defining roles helps streamline communication and action during a security event, allowing the organization to respond quickly and effectively to mitigate threats.

Furthermore, having specified responsibilities minimizes confusion, ensures accountability, and helps facilitate coordination among team members and other stakeholders. This clarity can be critical when time is of the essence during an incident, as it enables a well-organized and efficient response, this ultimately contributes to a more successful resolution of security incidents.

Other options, while relevant to broader organizational strategies and functions, do not directly pertain to the immediate and specific actions needed during an incident response. For instance, budgeting for security upgrades or marketing strategies for cybersecurity do not address the urgent, tactical requirements involved in incident management nor do they provide the focused framework necessary for responding to immediate threats. General IT support protocols also lack the specificity related to the incident response team's operations, focusing instead on routine IT functions that may not be suitable during a security crisis.