What is not a part of the incident response program?

The correct choice is based on the typical components that constitute an incident response program. An incident response program focuses specifically on addressing security breaches or cyber incidents once they occur. Its main elements include recovery actions, classification of incidents, and contingency planning.

Recovery actions detail the strategies and steps that need to be implemented to restore systems and data after an incident. Classification of incidents involves identifying and categorizing the nature and severity of the incident, which aids in determining the appropriate response. Contingency planning is about preparing for the unexpected scenarios in cybersecurity incidents, ensuring that an organization is ready to respond effectively.

While external communication is important when managing an incident, it is not directly a component of the incident response program itself. It pertains more to the organizational strategy and management of communications with stakeholders, users, and possibly the public during and after an incident. An effective incident response program will certainly include considerations for communication, but it is not classified as a core component of the response actions.