The purpose of an incident response plan in cybersecurity is to provide a structured approach for organizations to respond to and recover from security incidents. This plan outlines specific procedures for identifying, managing, and mitigating security threats and breaches. By having a predefined response strategy, organizations can minimize damage, reduce recovery time, and safeguard sensitive information. It typically includes roles and responsibilities, communication strategies, and incident escalation processes. Regular testing and updates to the plan are essential for adapting to evolving security landscapes.