Incident Response Roles
The Power of Role Specialization
In real cybersecurity incidents, effective response comes from teams where each member contributes their unique expertise and perspective. Malware & Monsters captures this reality by giving each player a specialized role that shapes how they approach problems and what they notice first.
Your role isn’t a rigid job description - it’s a lens through which you view incidents and a framework for contributing your knowledge effectively. The most successful teams leverage each role’s strengths while maintaining collaborative decision-making.
Role Overview
Here’s a quick preview of the six core incident response roles. Each brings a unique perspective to cybersecurity challenges:
🎭 Archetype
🎭 Archetype
🎭 Archetype
🎭 Archetype
🎭 Archetype
🎭 Archetype
The Six Core Roles
🔍 Detective (Cyber Sleuth)
Detective
🎭 Archetype
💪 Strengths
• Pattern Recognition: Spotting anomalies in logs and behavior
• Evidence Analysis: Connecting clues into attack timelines
• Digital Forensics: Understanding attack artifacts
• Timeline Construction: Building accurate chronologies
🎯 Focus Areas
• System logs and process executions
• Attack vector analysis and entry points
• Evidence preservation and IoC development
• Attack attribution and technique identification
🎪 Roleplay Tips
• Be curious about details others might skip
• Ask 'what does this remind you of?' when examining evidence
• Share your thought process: 'This pattern suggests...'
• Connect current findings to previous experiences
🎲 Game Modifiers
Archetype: “I see patterns others miss. Every attack tells a story.”
What Detectives Excel At
- Pattern Recognition: Spotting anomalies in logs, processes, and user behavior
- Evidence Analysis: Connecting seemingly unrelated clues into coherent attack timelines
- Digital Forensics: Understanding what artifacts attacks leave behind
- Timeline Construction: Building accurate chronologies of attack progression
Detective Mindset
Detectives are naturally suspicious and detail-oriented. They notice when things are “off” - even by small percentages. They think in terms of evidence and proof, always asking “what does this tell us?” and “what else should we check?”
Classic Detective Behaviors:
- Keeping mental (or actual) spreadsheets of normal vs. abnormal behavior
- Getting excited about small details that others overlook
- Asking follow-up questions about inconsistencies
- Wanting to understand the “why” behind every piece of evidence
What Detectives Investigate During Incidents
Discovery Phase:
- System logs for unusual process executions
- File creation/modification timestamps
- Network connection patterns
- User activity patterns and reports
Investigation Phase:
- Attack vector analysis and entry points
- Persistence mechanisms and registry changes
- Data access patterns and potential theft
- Command and control communications
Response Phase:
- Evidence preservation for future analysis
- Indicators of compromise (IoC) development
- Attack attribution and technique identification
- Documentation for lessons learned
Detective Role-Playing Tips
- Be curious about details others might skip
- Ask “what does this remind you of?” when examining evidence
- Share your thought process: “This pattern suggests…”
- Connect current findings to previous experiences
Sample Detective Introduction: “I’m Sarah, and I’ve been watching our system logs like Netflix for three years. I notice when things are 0.2% off normal, and right now everything feels 15% wrong. I’m already mentally building a timeline of every suspicious event from the past week.”
🛡️ Protector (Digital Guardian)
Protector
🎭 Archetype
💪 Strengths
• Threat Containment: Stopping attacks from spreading
• System Hardening: Implementing security controls
• Damage Assessment: Understanding system compromises
• Recovery Planning: Getting systems back to secure states
🎯 Focus Areas
• Identifying compromised systems and accounts
• Implementing isolation and quarantine measures
• Coordinating system restoration efforts
• Preventing attack evolution and spread
🎪 Roleplay Tips
• Express personal investment in system security
• Think about immediate protective actions
• Consider the human impact of system compromises
• Focus on practical, implementable defenses
🎲 Game Modifiers
Archetype: “Not on my watch. Every system is someone I’m protecting.”
What Protectors Excel At
- Threat Containment: Stopping attacks from spreading or causing more damage
- System Hardening: Implementing defenses and security controls
- Damage Assessment: Understanding what systems are compromised and how badly
- Recovery Planning: Getting systems back to secure, operational states
Protector Mindset
Protectors take attacks personally. They view systems as their responsibility and feel genuine offense when threats try to compromise them. They think in terms of defense, containment, and protection, always asking “how do we stop this?” and “what’s vulnerable?”
Classic Protector Behaviors:
- Naming security tools like beloved pets
- Getting visibly angry at malware behavior
- Instinctively thinking about worst-case scenarios
- Wanting to take immediate action to limit damage
What Protectors Focus On During Incidents
Discovery Phase:
- Identifying compromised systems and accounts
- Assessing current security control effectiveness
- Checking backup systems and disaster recovery readiness
- Evaluating immediate containment options
Investigation Phase:
- Mapping attack spread and lateral movement
- Testing security control bypasses
- Assessing data integrity and system damage
- Planning containment strategies
Response Phase:
- Implementing isolation and quarantine measures
- Deploying additional security controls
- Coordinating system restoration efforts
- Preventing attack evolution and spread
Protector Role-Playing Tips
- Express personal investment in system security
- Think about immediate protective actions
- Consider the human impact of system compromises
- Focus on practical, implementable defenses
Sample Protector Introduction: “I’m Mike, and these servers are my children. Someone just tried to hurt my babies, and I take that very personally. I’ve got defensive tools locked and loaded, and I’m not afraid to use them.”
📡 Tracker (Data Whisperer)
Tracker
🎭 Archetype
💪 Strengths
• Network Analysis: Understanding traffic patterns and flows
• Data Flow Tracking: Following information through systems
• Communication Monitoring: Detecting C2 and exfiltration
• Infrastructure Mapping: Understanding network relationships
🎯 Focus Areas
• Network traffic and communication patterns
• Data exfiltration and C2 channels
• Lateral movement detection
• Infrastructure and connection analysis
🎪 Roleplay Tips
• Think in terms of flows and connections
• Ask 'where is this data going?' and 'what is calling home?'
• Visualize the network in your explanations
• Focus on movement and communication patterns
🎲 Game Modifiers
Archetype: “I follow the digital breadcrumbs. Data flows tell me everything.”
What Trackers Excel At
- Network Analysis: Understanding traffic patterns and communication flows
- Data Flow Monitoring: Tracking what information moves where
- Connection Mapping: Identifying relationships between systems and threats
- Behavioral Analysis: Recognizing unusual patterns in data movement
Tracker Mindset
Trackers visualize networks and data flows like maps or subway systems. They can “see” information moving through systems and notice when something travels where it shouldn’t. They think in terms of connections, patterns, and flows, always asking “where is this going?” and “what pattern does this create?”
Classic Tracker Behaviors:
- Describing networks in visual/spatial terms
- Getting excited about interesting traffic patterns
- Naming suspicious connections and IP addresses
- Speaking in network protocols and port numbers
What Trackers Monitor During Incidents
Discovery Phase:
- Unusual outbound network connections
- Data exfiltration patterns and volumes
- Internal network traffic anomalies
- Command and control communications
Investigation Phase:
- Lateral movement pathways through networks
- Data staging and collection activities
- External infrastructure and threat actor tools
- Network-based persistence mechanisms
Response Phase:
- Blocking malicious network communications
- Monitoring for continued threat activity
- Tracking threat actor infrastructure changes
- Validating containment effectiveness
Tracker Role-Playing Tips
- Use spatial/visual metaphors for network activity
- Get excited about discovering communication patterns
- Think about data like water flowing through pipes
- Focus on connections and relationships between systems
Sample Tracker Introduction: “I’m Alex, and I see our network like a subway map in my head. Right now there’s a train going somewhere it shouldn’t, and I’m going to follow it back to the station. Probably going to name this threat ‘Sneaky Pete’ until we know what it really is.”
👥 Communicator (People Whisperer)
Communicator
🎭 Archetype
💪 Strengths
• Stakeholder Management: Coordinating with leadership and teams
• Crisis Communication: Clear messaging during high-stress situations
• Regulatory Compliance: Understanding notification requirements
• Risk Translation: Explaining technical impacts in business terms
🎯 Focus Areas
• Executive and management communication
• User and employee notifications
• External vendor and partner coordination
• Regulatory and legal compliance communication
🎪 Roleplay Tips
• Always consider 'who needs to know?' about developments
• Translate technical details into business impact
• Think about timing and messaging of communications
• Balance transparency with operational security
🎲 Game Modifiers
Archetype: “I translate between human and technical. Everyone needs to understand what’s happening.”
What Communicators Excel At
- Stakeholder Management: Keeping executives, users, and teams informed
- Technical Translation: Explaining complex concepts in accessible terms
- Crisis Communication: Managing information flow during high-stress situations
- Business Impact Assessment: Understanding organizational and compliance implications
Communicator Mindset
Communicators naturally think about the human side of cybersecurity incidents. They consider who needs to know what, when, and how to explain it effectively. They bridge technical and business worlds, always asking “who else is affected?” and “how do we explain this clearly?”
Classic Communicator Behaviors:
- Automatically translating technical jargon into plain language
- Thinking about compliance and regulatory requirements
- Considering user experience and business continuity
- Using analogies to explain complex technical concepts
What Communicators Handle During Incidents
Discovery Phase:
- Interviewing users about suspicious activities
- Assessing initial business impact and scope
- Planning stakeholder notification strategies
- Understanding social engineering vectors
Investigation Phase:
- Managing executive and customer communications
- Coordinating with legal and compliance teams
- Assessing regulatory notification requirements
- Planning user training and awareness responses
Response Phase:
- Coordinating organization-wide response activities
- Managing external communications and media
- Planning post-incident user education
- Documenting lessons learned for future training
Communicator Role-Playing Tips
- Think about how to explain technical findings to non-technical people
- Consider the business and human impact of incidents
- Ask about organizational policies and compliance requirements
- Focus on clear, actionable communication
Sample Communicator Introduction: “I’m Jamie, and I’m the one who explains why turning it off and on again won’t fix APT infiltration. I keep our CEO from panicking and our users from clicking suspicious links. Think of me as a cybersecurity translator.”
⚡ Crisis Manager (Chaos Wrangler)
Crisis Manager
🎭 Archetype
💪 Strengths
• Resource Allocation: Deploying people and tools effectively
• Priority Management: Deciding what's most important right now
• Team Coordination: Keeping everyone working toward common goals
• Decision Making: Making calls when information is incomplete
🎯 Focus Areas
• Response coordination and resource allocation
• Prioritization and decision making under pressure
• Escalation management and authority interfaces
• Overall incident strategy and planning
🎪 Roleplay Tips
• Think strategically about resource allocation
• Keep the big picture in mind during technical discussions
• Don't hesitate to make decisions with incomplete information
• Focus on coordination rather than doing everything yourself
🎲 Game Modifiers
Archetype: “I see the big picture. Someone has to keep track of everything while you specialists do your magic.”
What Crisis Managers Excel At
- Incident Coordination: Orchestrating team efforts and decision-making
- Resource Management: Allocating time, people, and tools effectively
- Priority Setting: Determining what needs attention first
- Strategic Planning: Balancing short-term response with long-term recovery
Crisis Manager Mindset
Crisis Managers naturally organize complex situations into manageable components. They think systematically about dependencies, timelines, and resource allocation. They see the forest while others focus on trees, always asking “what’s our overall strategy?” and “how do all these pieces fit together?”
Classic Crisis Manager Behaviors:
- Creating mental (or actual) project plans for incident response
- Thinking about task dependencies and critical paths
- Getting energized by complex, multi-faceted problems
- Speaking in terms of priorities, timelines, and coordination
What Crisis Managers Coordinate During Incidents
Discovery Phase:
- Team role assignment and investigation coordination
- Communication protocols and information sharing
- Timeline establishment and milestone planning
- Resource requirement assessment
Investigation Phase:
- Cross-functional team coordination
- Priority setting for multiple investigation tracks
- Decision-making process facilitation
- External resource coordination (vendors, authorities)
Response Phase:
- Comprehensive response strategy coordination
- Multi-team effort synchronization
- Recovery planning and business continuity
- Post-incident review and improvement planning
Crisis Manager Role-Playing Tips
- Focus on team coordination and communication
- Think about timelines, dependencies, and priorities
- Ask about resource availability and constraints
- Consider both immediate response and long-term recovery
Sample Crisis Manager Introduction: “I’m Taylor, and I’m the one making sure we’re all solving the same problem instead of five different ones. I have a mental Gantt chart of this incident, and right now we’re behind schedule but not off track.”
🎯 Threat Hunter (Pattern Seeker)
Threat Hunter
🎭 Archetype
💪 Strengths
• Advanced Detection: Finding sophisticated and hidden threats
• Attack Prediction: Anticipating threat behavior and evolution
• Intelligence Analysis: Using threat intelligence effectively
• Proactive Defense: Stopping attacks before they cause damage
🎯 Focus Areas
• Hidden threat detection and hunting
• Threat intelligence and attribution analysis
• Attack prediction and evolution assessment
• Advanced persistent threat investigation
🎪 Roleplay Tips
• Think beyond the immediate threat: 'What else might be here?'
• Use threat intelligence to predict attacker next moves
• Be proactive: look for what hasn't been found yet
• Consider the broader campaign beyond this incident
🎲 Game Modifiers
Archetype: “I don’t wait for alerts. I go looking for trouble before it finds us.”
What Threat Hunters Excel At
- Proactive Investigation: Finding threats that aren’t yet detected
- Hypothesis-Driven Analysis: Testing theories about attack techniques
- Adversary Behavior Analysis: Understanding attacker tactics and motivations
- Intelligence Development: Creating actionable threat intelligence
Threat Hunter Mindset
Threat Hunters assume breach and actively search for signs of compromise. They think like attackers to predict where threats might hide. They approach problems with curiosity and skepticism, always asking “what aren’t we seeing?” and “what would I do if I were the attacker?”
Classic Threat Hunter Behaviors:
- Questioning initial findings and looking deeper
- Thinking about what attackers would do next
- Getting excited about discovering hidden threats
- Using threat intelligence to guide investigation
What Threat Hunters Search For During Incidents
Discovery Phase:
- Hidden threats not revealed by initial investigation
- Signs of earlier, undetected compromise
- Related threat actor activities and campaigns
- Advanced evasion techniques and living-off-the-land tactics
Investigation Phase:
- Persistence mechanisms beyond obvious indicators
- Lateral movement techniques and covert channels
- Data staging areas and collection points
- Command and control infrastructure analysis
Response Phase:
- Remaining threat actor presence after containment
- New attack techniques and tool development
- Threat actor adaptation to response activities
- Intelligence collection for future defense
Threat Hunter Role-Playing Tips
- Always assume there’s more to discover
- Think from the attacker’s perspective
- Question obvious conclusions and dig deeper
- Connect current incident to broader threat landscape
Sample Threat Hunter Introduction: “I’m Jordan, and I never trust first impressions when it comes to security incidents. While everyone’s dealing with the obvious threat, I’m looking for what the attacker really doesn’t want us to find. Something this visible is usually hiding something more interesting.”
Role Collaboration and Team Dynamics
How Roles Work Together
The magic of Malware & Monsters happens when different roles combine their perspectives:
Investigation Collaboration Example
- Detective finds unusual process execution in logs
- Protector identifies which systems are affected
- Tracker discovers external communication to suspicious IPs
- Communicator interviews users who received phishing emails
- Crisis Manager coordinates timeline and next steps
- Threat Hunter searches for related compromise indicators
Each role contributes unique value that the others might miss.
Role-Based Type Effectiveness
Different roles have natural advantages against specific Malmon types based on their expertise and approach:
Trojan
Weak to: Detection
Resists: Training
Worm
Weak to: Isolation
Resists: Backup
Ransomware
Weak to: Backup
Resists: Encryption
Rootkit
Weak to: Forensics
Resists: Detection
APT
Weak to: Intelligence
Phishing
Weak to: Training
Botnet
Weak to: Coordination
Infostealer
Weak to: Encryption
Understanding Your Role’s Strengths
Detective Advantages:
- vs. Trojans: Excel at detecting deception and social engineering vectors
- vs. APTs: Pattern recognition reveals long-term campaign indicators
- vs. Rootkits: Forensic skills uncover hidden artifacts and persistence
Protector Advantages:
- vs. Worms: Network isolation and segmentation prevent spread
- vs. Ransomware: Backup systems and recovery procedures mitigate impact
- vs. Basic threats: Security controls and hardening provide strong defense
Tracker Advantages:
- vs. Worms: Network propagation creates obvious traffic patterns
- vs. Infostealers: Data exfiltration generates detectable network activity
- vs. APTs: Long-term monitoring reveals communication patterns
Communicator Advantages:
- vs. Trojans: Social engineering requires user education response
- vs. Ransomware: Business impact assessment and stakeholder management critical
- vs. APTs: Long-term incidents require sustained stakeholder communication
Crisis Manager Advantages:
- vs. Ransomware: Business continuity and crisis coordination essential
- vs. APTs: Complex response requires strategic coordination
- vs. Worms: Rapid spread requires immediate resource allocation
Threat Hunter Advantages:
- vs. APTs: Proactive hunting essential for sophisticated threats
- vs. Rootkits: Advanced techniques required to find hidden threats
- vs. Infostealers: Proactive search reveals data collection activities
Remember: These are strengths, not limitations. Every role can contribute to any Malmon type - this helps you know where to lean into your expertise.
Natural Role Partnerships
Detective + Threat Hunter
Detectives provide evidence-based analysis while Threat Hunters ask “what else should we look for?” Together they create comprehensive investigation strategies.
Protector + Crisis Manager
Protectors focus on immediate containment while Crisis Managers coordinate broader response efforts. This partnership balances tactical action with strategic planning.
Tracker + Communicator
Trackers provide technical network analysis while Communicators assess business impact and stakeholder needs. Together they create complete situational awareness.
Managing Role Overlap
Sometimes roles have overlapping interests or conflicting priorities:
When Multiple Roles Want the Same Action
- Acknowledge all perspectives: “Both Detective and Threat Hunter want to investigate those logs”
- Divide the work: Detective focuses on timeline, Threat Hunter looks for hidden threats
- Leverage different approaches: Each role brings unique techniques
When Roles Disagree on Priorities
- Crisis Manager coordination: Help team evaluate trade-offs
- Communicator facilitation: Ensure all concerns are heard
- Collaborative decision-making: Find solutions that address multiple role concerns
Choosing Your Role
Based on Your Interests
If You Enjoy…
- Solving puzzles and finding patterns: Detective or Threat Hunter
- Protecting systems and stopping attacks: Protector
- Understanding networks and data flows: Tracker
- Working with people and business issues: Communicator
- Organizing complex projects: Crisis Manager
Based on Your Experience
Technical Background
Any role can leverage technical expertise, but consider:
- Detective: If you like log analysis and forensics
- Protector: If you focus on security tools and hardening
- Tracker: If you work with networks and monitoring
- Threat Hunter: If you do security research or advanced analysis
Business Background
- Communicator: Natural fit for business-focused professionals
- Crisis Manager: Great for project management experience
- Any role: Business perspective enhances every role
Mixed or New to Cybersecurity
All roles welcome newcomers! Choose based on what sounds interesting rather than what you “should” know.
Role Development Over Time
Starting Simple
Your first sessions might focus on basic role activities:
- Detective: Looking for obvious anomalies
- Protector: Implementing standard containment
- Tracker: Monitoring basic network patterns
Growing Complexity
As you gain experience:
- Detective: Advanced forensic techniques and complex timeline analysis
- Protector: Sophisticated defense strategies and threat prediction
- Tracker: Deep network analysis and behavioral detection
Cross-Role Learning
Experienced players often understand multiple roles, making them more effective in their chosen specialty.
Role-Playing Tips for All Roles
Embrace the Archetype
- Have fun with role stereotypes and characteristics
- Let your role’s personality influence how you approach problems
- Use role-consistent language and metaphors
Stay True to Your Expertise
- Contribute your real knowledge through your role’s lens
- Don’t feel limited by role boundaries when you have relevant expertise
- Share insights that help the team, regardless of role
Support Other Roles
- Ask questions that help other roles contribute
- Build on others’ findings from your role’s perspective
- Acknowledge when other roles have better expertise for specific issues
Learn from Experience
- Pay attention to how your role’s perspective contributes to solutions
- Notice what other roles teach you about incident response
- Develop your role’s intuition through practice
While roles provide structure and focus, don’t let them become rigid boundaries. The best teams leverage each member’s full expertise while maintaining role-based perspectives that ensure comprehensive coverage of incident response needs.
In the next chapter, we’ll explore the Containment System - how your team uses security controls and techniques to neutralize Malmon threats and restore organizational security.