Top 10 Best Incident Response Tools in 2025

In the face of relentless cyberattacks, the ability to detect, contain, and recover from a security incident is paramount.

While proactive security measures are crucial, a breach is often an inevitable reality for many organizations. When a cyberattack occurs, every second counts.

The financial fallout, reputational damage, and operational disruption can be catastrophic if not handled swiftly and effectively.

This is where Incident Response (IR) companies come in. These specialized firms provide the expert teams, advanced technology, and battle-tested methodologies required to investigate a breach, remove the adversary, and get an organization back to business.

A top-tier incident response firm does more than just technical remediation; it provides a comprehensive service that includes digital forensics, threat intelligence, legal and crisis communication support, and a strategic roadmap to prevent future attacks.

With the cybersecurity skills gap widening, partnering with one of the best incident response companies is no longer a luxury it’s a critical part of a modern cybersecurity strategy.

This article examines the Top 10 Best Incident Response Companies, evaluating their expertise, technology, and comprehensive service offerings to help you make an informed decision for your organization.

Comparison Table: Top 10 Best Incident Response Companies in 2025

Company	Incident Response Retainer	Digital Forensics	Threat Intelligence Integration	Proactive Services	24/7/365 Availability
Mandiant	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
CrowdStrike	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Rapid7	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
IBM	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Palo Alto Networks	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Microsoft	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Splunk	✅ No	✅ No	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No
Cynet	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
AT&T Cybersecurity	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Secureworks	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes

1. Mandiant

Why We Picked It:

Mandiant’s unrivaled experience in high-stakes breach investigations is the primary reason for its top ranking.

The company is not just a technology provider; it is a team of elite security experts who have a deep understanding of attacker tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs).

Their threat intelligence, which is a direct result of their incident response work, is unmatched in the industry and gives them a significant edge in identifying and eradicating threats. Their retainer model ensures a rapid response when you need it most.

Specifications:

Mandiant’s services include Emergency Incident Response, Mandiant Retainers for pre-negotiated access to their experts, and a full suite of proactive services like Compromise Assessments and Cyber Crisis Communications Planning.

Their expertise extends to a wide range of incident types, including ransomware, business email compromise, and advanced persistent threats (APTs).

Reason to Buy:

If your organization faces a high-stakes, complex security incident or wants the absolute best in the business for proactive preparation, Mandiant is the definitive choice.

Their unparalleled expertise and global reach provide the confidence and capability to handle any cyber crisis.

Features:

• Unmatched Expertise: A team of elite incident responders with a deep understanding of global threat actors.
• Frontline Threat Intelligence: Their intelligence is directly sourced from ongoing incident response investigations.
• Crisis Communications: Provides expert guidance for managing public and internal communications during a breach.
• Global Reach: Experts available in over 30 countries for on-site support.
• Rapid Response: Their retainer ensures on-call experts can begin triage within hours.

Pros:

• Recognized as the industry leader in incident response.
• Unrivaled threat intelligence derived from thousands of investigations.
• Comprehensive services from preparation to full recovery.
• Strong reputation provides credibility in crisis situations.

Cons:

• Premium pricing may be prohibitive for smaller organizations.
• May not be as focused on smaller-scale incidents.

✅ Best For: Large enterprises, government agencies, and organizations facing complex, high-stakes cyber incidents.

🔗 Try Mandiant here → Mandiant Official Website

2. CrowdStrike

Why We Picked It:

CrowdStrike’s model is revolutionary in its speed and efficiency. Their Falcon platform, with its lightweight agent, can be deployed across thousands of endpoints in minutes, giving their incident responders immediate visibility into the entire environment.

This “Day One” remediation capability significantly reduces the time to contain and eradicate a threat.

Their Falcon Complete MDR service combines this technology with a dedicated team of threat hunters and responders who are constantly monitoring and responding to threats, making them a true partner in security.

Specifications:

CrowdStrike’s services include Emergency Incident Response, Incident Response Retainer, and Managed Detection and Response (MDR) through their Falcon Complete offering.

They specialize in a variety of attacks, including ransomware, business email compromise, and advanced persistent threats (APTs), and offer proactive services like Compromise Assessments and Adversary Exercises.

Reason to Buy:

If your organization values a lightning-fast, highly effective incident response that leverages a best-in-class technology platform, CrowdStrike is an excellent choice.

Their services are ideal for businesses that want to get back to normal operations as quickly as possible and reduce the overall cost and impact of a breach.

Features:

• Cloud-Native Platform: The Falcon platform enables immediate deployment and visibility.
• Day One Remediation: The ability to begin containment and eradication on the first day of the engagement.
• Elite Threat Hunters: Access to the Falcon OverWatch team for proactive threat hunting.
• Integrated Threat Intelligence: Threat intelligence is integrated directly into the platform for real-time analysis.
• Seamless Recovery: Focuses on not just containment, but a full and secure return to business.

Pros:

• Extremely rapid response and remediation.
• Lightweight agent with minimal performance overhead.
• Seamless integration of technology and human expertise.
• Strong reputation and proven track record.

Cons:

• May be a more expensive option.
• Heavily reliant on the CrowdStrike Falcon platform.

✅ Best For: Organizations seeking a fast, efficient, and technologically advanced incident response service with a focus on rapid remediation.

🔗 Try CrowdStrike here → CrowdStrike Official Website

3. Rapid7

Why We Picked It:

Rapid7 stands out for its unique blend of incident response and proactive security services.

Their team of experts, powered by the Insight platform, can quickly identify and contain threats while simultaneously providing valuable insights into the vulnerabilities and misconfigurations that allowed the breach to happen.

This dual focus ensures that an organization not only recovers from the current attack but also strengthens its defenses against future threats. Their one-hour response time for retainer clients is a significant competitive advantage.

Specifications:

Rapid7 offers a full suite of services, including Emergency Breach Response, Incident Response Retainers, Compromise Assessments, and IR Program Development.

Their services are supported by the Rapid7 Insight Platform, which provides analytics for endpoint, network, and cloud data.

Reason to Buy:

If your organization wants an incident response partner that goes beyond technical remediation to provide strategic guidance on improving your overall security posture, Rapid7 is an excellent choice.

They are ideal for businesses that want a long-term partner to help them build a more mature and resilient security program.

Features:

• Holistic Approach: Combines incident response with vulnerability management and security program development.
• Rapid Response: Guarantees a one-hour response time for retainer clients.
• Insight Platform Integration: Leverages their proprietary platform for deep security analytics and threat hunting.
• Customized Services: Tailors services to meet the specific needs and maturity level of each organization.
• Expert-Led: Their team of experts provides hands-on support and strategic advice.

Pros:

• Strong focus on both reactive response and proactive resilience.
• Guaranteed rapid response for retainer clients.
• Leverages a powerful, integrated security platform.
• Provides clear, actionable recommendations for future improvement.

Cons:

• May not have the same global scale as some of the larger firms.
• Can be more focused on technology-driven insights than some of the more “human-centric” firms.

✅ Best For: Organizations that want to use a breach as a learning experience to improve their security posture and build a more resilient program.

🔗 Try Rapid7 here → Rapid7 Official Website

4. IBM

Why We Picked It:

IBM’s sheer scale and depth of experience make it a formidable player in the IR market.

Their services are backed by a global network of SOCs and the powerful IBM X-Force threat intelligence team, which provides unparalleled insights into the global threat landscape.

Their ability to provide end-to-end security services, from security strategy and consulting to managed detection and response, makes them a one-stop-shop for complex security needs.

They are particularly well-suited for handling incidents in highly regulated industries and on a global scale.

Specifications:

IBM offers a full spectrum of services, including Emergency Incident Response, IR Retainers, and a range of proactive services like Threat Intelligence Services and Cyber Range Experiences.

They leverage their own technologies, including IBM QRadar for SIEM and security analytics and IBM X-Force for threat intelligence and incident response.

Reason to Buy:

If your organization requires a highly mature, globally-backed incident response firm with a wide range of services, a strong security consulting practice, and a reputation for handling complex, large-scale security challenges, IBM is a top contender.

Features:

• Global SOC Network: 24/7 monitoring and response from a worldwide network of SOCs.
• IBM X-Force: A team of elite security researchers and incident responders.
• Comprehensive Service Portfolio: From consulting to MDR and security strategy.
• AI and Automation: Integrates AI into security analytics and response workflows.
• Managed Detection and Response: Detects and responds to advanced threats.

Pros:

• Extremely mature and comprehensive service portfolio.
• Global reach with a vast network of SOCs.
• Strong threat intelligence and incident response capabilities.
• Proven track record with large enterprises and government agencies.

Cons:

• Pricing can be complex and may be higher than some competitors.
• Can be less agile than some smaller, more focused IR firms.

✅ Best For: Large enterprises and government agencies that need a mature, globally-backed partner for complex security challenges.

🔗 Try IBM here → IBM Official Website

5. Palo Alto Networks

Why We Picked It:

Palo Alto Networks’ incident response services are powered by the deep threat intelligence of their Unit 42 research team, which provides them with a unique understanding of attacker motivations and TTPs.

This intelligence-driven approach allows their IR team to not only identify and contain a threat but also to provide valuable context and attribution.

Their services are tightly integrated with their Cortex XDR platform, which allows for a unified view of threats across endpoints, networks, and cloud environments, accelerating the investigation and response process.

Specifications:

Palo Alto Networks offers Unit 42 Incident Response Services, IR Retainers, and proactive services like Threat Assessments.

They specialize in a variety of attacks, including ransomware, business email compromise, and advanced persistent threats (APTs).

Their services are integrated with their security platforms, including Cortex XDR, Cortex XSOAR, and Prisma Cloud.

Reason to Buy:

If your organization wants to leverage a leading security technology platform combined with world-class human expertise, Palo Alto Networks’ Unit 42 is an excellent choice.

They are ideal for businesses that are already using Palo Alto Networks products and want to maximize their investment by partnering with their own expert incident response team.

Features:

• Unit 42 Threat Intelligence: Provides a deep, intelligence-driven approach to IR.
• Cortex XDR Integration: Leverages their XDR platform for a unified view of the attack.
• Proactive Services: Offers a wide range of proactive services to improve security posture.
• Global Reach: Experts available globally for rapid response.
• Ransomware Negotiation: Provides expert support for ransomware negotiation and recovery.

Pros:

• Unparalleled threat intelligence from the Unit 42 team.
• Seamless integration with a leading-edge security platform.
• Expert-led approach with a focus on comprehensive remediation.
• Offers a full suite of services, from proactive to reactive.

Cons:

• May be a more expensive option.
• Can be less effective for organizations that do not use Palo Alto Networks’ security products.

✅ Best For: Organizations that want to pair world-class threat intelligence and IR expertise with a leading security technology platform.

🔗 Try Palo Alto Networks here → Palo Alto Networks Official Website

6. Microsoft

Why We Picked It:

Microsoft’s unique strength lies in its deep integration with its widely adopted productivity, cloud, and identity platforms.

For organizations that are heavily invested in the Microsoft ecosystem, leveraging Microsoft for incident response is a natural and highly effective choice.

They provide a seamless, unified security experience that eliminates the need for managing multiple vendors and disparate security tools.

The integration of Microsoft Sentinel for SIEM and Microsoft 365 Defender for XDR provides a powerful combination for detection and response.

Specifications:

Microsoft’s IR offerings are centered around their security solutions, including Microsoft 365 Defender (for endpoints, identity, email, and apps), Microsoft Sentinel (for SIEM and SOAR), and Microsoft Azure Security Center (for cloud security).

They provide managed security services that help clients implement, monitor, and respond to threats across these platforms.

Reason to Buy:

If your organization is heavily invested in the Microsoft ecosystem and wants to leverage a unified, integrated security platform for your incident response needs, Microsoft is an excellent choice.

They are ideal for businesses seeking to simplify their security stack and gain seamless protection across their Microsoft environments.

Features:

• Unified Platform: Integrated security across endpoints, identity, cloud, and applications.
• Microsoft Sentinel: A cloud-native SIEM and SOAR platform.
• Microsoft 365 Defender: Comprehensive XDR for Microsoft environments.
• Deep Integration: Seamlessly integrates with Windows, Office 365, and Azure.
• Automated Investigation: Leverages AI for threat detection and automated response.

Pros:

• Seamless integration with the Microsoft ecosystem.
• Often a cost-effective choice for existing Microsoft customers.
• Unified security from a single vendor.
• Strong investment in AI and security innovation.

Cons:

• Less focused on non-Microsoft environments.
• May not be the best choice for organizations with a diverse, non-Microsoft technology stack.

✅ Best For: Organizations heavily invested in the Microsoft ecosystem looking for a unified, integrated, and cost-effective IR solution.

🔗 Try Microsoft here → Microsoft Official Website

7. Splunk

Why We Picked It:

Splunk’s value proposition to the IR community is its powerful platform for data ingestion and analysis.

Its ability to aggregate, analyze, and visualize security data from virtually any source allows security teams to perform highly customized and effective threat investigations.

The platform’s scalability and powerful search capabilities are essential for managing large volumes of data and performing complex threat investigations, making it a foundational tool for a modern SOC.

While they don’t provide a direct, human-led IR service, their technology is a cornerstone of effective IR.

Specifications:

Splunk’s security products include Splunk Enterprise Security (ES), a SIEM platform, and Splunk SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response).

They provide security content, apps, and integrations that IR teams use to build their own managed services, including managed threat detection and response.

Reason to Buy:

If you are an organization that wants to build an in-house incident response program or partner with a firm that leverages a leading data analytics and SIEM platform, Splunk is the right technology to have in your arsenal.

It’s a great choice for those who value data-driven security and require a platform that can handle massive amounts of security telemetry.

Features:

• Data Ingestion and Analysis: Can ingest and analyze data from any security tool or log source.
• Splunk Enterprise Security: A leading SIEM platform for security analytics and event correlation.
• Splunk SOAR: Automation and orchestration for accelerated incident response.
• Customization: Highly customizable dashboards, searches, and alerts.
• Scalability: Can handle petabytes of data for large-scale environments.

Pros:

• Unmatched data analytics and search capabilities.
• Foundational platform for building highly customized security services.
• Strong ecosystem of integrations and apps.
• Ideal for organizations that need to analyze massive amounts of security data.

Cons:

• Splunk itself is a technology vendor, not a service provider.
• Requires significant investment and expertise to implement and manage effectively.

✅ Best For: Organizations that want to build a powerful in-house IR program or partner with a firm that leverages a leading data analytics platform.

🔗 Try Splunk here → Splunk Official Website

8. Cynet

Why We Picked It:

Cynet’s value proposition is its all-in-one platform, which combines Next-Generation Antivirus (NGAV), Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), and Network Detection and Response (NDR) into a single agent.

This integrated approach simplifies deployment and management. Their managed security team, CyOps, provides 24/7 monitoring, threat hunting, and incident response, ensuring that clients have expert eyes on their environment at all times.

This combination of a unified platform and a dedicated security team provides a powerful and cost-effective solution.

Specifications:

Cynet’s services include Incident Response Retainers, Compromise Assessments, and Managed Detection and Response through their CyOps team.

Their platform, Cynet 360, offers a single, consolidated view of security across endpoints, networks, and user activity.

Reason to Buy:

If your organization needs a comprehensive and integrated security solution that includes expert-led incident response, Cynet is an excellent choice.

They are ideal for small to medium-sized businesses that want a powerful, easy-to-manage platform paired with a team of experts for around-the-clock protection.

Features:

• Integrated Platform: Combines NGAV, EDR, and NDR into a single platform.
• CyOps Team: A dedicated 24/7 security team for managed detection and response.
• Rapid Deployment: The single agent can be deployed across thousands of endpoints in minutes.
• Proactive Threat Hunting: The CyOps team proactively hunts for threats in your environment.
• Cost-Effective: Offers a comprehensive solution at a competitive price point.

Pros:

• All-in-one platform simplifies security management.
• Expert-led managed services at a competitive price.
• Rapid deployment and a low-maintenance agent.
• Ideal for small and medium-sized businesses.

Cons:

• Not as well-known as some of the larger, more established players.
• May not have the same level of global scale as the industry giants.

✅ Best For: Small to medium-sized businesses looking for a comprehensive, integrated, and cost-effective incident response solution.

🔗 Try Cynet here → Cynet Official Website

9. AT&T Cybersecurity

Why We Picked It:

AT&T Cybersecurity’s strength lies in its ability to combine network and endpoint security with a comprehensive set of managed services.

Their Unified Security Management (USM) platform and Alien Labs threat intelligence provide a strong foundation for their incident response capabilities.

For organizations that rely on AT&T for their network infrastructure, a partnership with AT&T Cybersecurity provides a seamless and integrated approach to security.

Their deep expertise in networking and telecommunications allows them to handle incidents that involve a blend of network and endpoint attacks.

Specifications:

AT&T Cybersecurity’s services include Emergency Incident Response, IR Retainers, and proactive services like Compromise Assessments.

They leverage their Unified Security Management (USM) platform and their own Alien Labs threat intelligence team.

Reason to Buy:

If your organization wants a trusted, global partner that can provide a seamless and integrated approach to security and incident response, AT&T Cybersecurity is an excellent choice.

They are ideal for businesses that have a significant investment in AT&T’s network and communications infrastructure.

Features:

• Unified Security Management: A single platform for security monitoring and management.
• Alien Labs Threat Intelligence: Proactive threat intelligence from their own research team.
• Network and Endpoint Security: Strong expertise in both network and endpoint security.
• Global Reach: The backing of AT&T’s global network.
• Managed Services: A wide range of managed services to augment your security team.

Pros:

• Leverages a strong, global network infrastructure.
• Seamless integration for organizations with AT&T products.
• Provides a unified view of security with their USM platform.
• Reputable and established company.

Cons:

• May be less focused on pure-play incident response than some competitors.
• Can be more product-centric than service-centric.

✅ Best For: Organizations seeking a global, trusted partner that can provide an integrated approach to security and incident response across their network and endpoints.

🔗 Try AT&T Cybersecurity here → AT&T Cybersecurity Official Website

10. Secureworks

Why We Picked It:

Secureworks is known for its pure-play, expert-led approach to managed security. Their Counter Threat Unit™ (CTU) is a team of elite security researchers and threat hunters who provide the intelligence and expertise that power their incident response services.

The Secureworks Taegis platform is purpose-built for security analytics and operations, allowing their team to quickly ingest and analyze security data to detect and respond to threats.

This combination of a purpose-built platform and a team of seasoned experts makes them a reliable choice for organizations that want a high-touch, expert-led service.

Specifications:

Secureworks offers a range of services, including Emergency Incident Response, Incident Management Retainers, and proactive services like Adversary Exercises and Ransomware Readiness Assessments.

All of their services are built on the Secureworks Taegis platform and are powered by their proprietary threat intelligence.

Reason to Buy:

If your organization needs a dedicated, expert-led incident response firm with a proven track record and a purpose-built platform, Secureworks is an excellent choice.

They are ideal for businesses that want a partner who can act as an extension of their security team and provide a high level of expertise and support.

Features:

• Secureworks Taegis Platform: Cloud-native platform for security analytics and operations.
• Counter Threat Unit (CTU): A dedicated team of elite security researchers and threat hunters.
• Incident Management Retainers: Guarantees access to their experts when you need them most.
• Proactive Services: Offers a wide range of services to improve your security posture.
• Expert-Led: A high-touch service with a focus on expert human analysis.

Pros:

• Pure-play MSSP with a long history of expertise.
• Highly effective threat detection and response.
• Proprietary platform is built for speed and efficiency.
• Focuses on the human element with elite security experts.

Cons:

• May be a more expensive option.
• Requires a strong reliance on Secureworks’ proprietary platform.

✅ Best For: Organizations of all sizes seeking a dedicated, expert-led incident response service with a high-touch, human-centric approach.

🔗 Try Secureworks here → Secureworks Official Website

Conclusion

When a cyber incident strikes, the choice of your incident response partner can make the difference between a minor disruption and a business-ending catastrophe.

The Top 10 Incident Response Companies on this list represent the best in the business, each with a unique value proposition.

From Mandiant’s unparalleled experience to CrowdStrike’s lightning-fast remediation and Rapid7’s holistic approach, there is an ideal partner for every organization.

The key to making the right choice is to carefully evaluate your own needs.

Do you need a globally recognized leader for a high-stakes crisis? Or are you looking for a long-term partner to help you build a more resilient security posture? By considering their technologies, services, and core strengths, you can choose a firm that will provide the expertise and support you need to navigate a cyber crisis and emerge stronger than before.