What type of report provides insights into an incident and recommendations for improving future responses?

The after-action report (AAR) is a crucial tool in incident response management as it specifically focuses on evaluating what occurred during an incident and determining the effectiveness of the response efforts. It provides a thorough analysis of the incident, outlining what happened, the actions taken, and the outcomes of those actions. Additionally, the report offers recommendations for future improvements, ensuring that organizations learn from past incidents and enhance their response strategies.

This learning component is vital as it helps organizations to identify gaps in their processes or responses and implement adjustments to reduce vulnerabilities and improve overall security posture. AARs are often conducted after significant incidents to foster a culture of continuous improvement within incident response teams.

In contrast, incident reports are typically focused on documenting the specifics of the event itself without necessarily providing the same level of analytical insight and recommendations for future improvement. Risk assessment reports evaluate potential risks and vulnerabilities but do not analyze a specific incident. Compliance reports focus on adherence to laws and regulations rather than incident analysis. Therefore, the AAR stands out as the most suitable choice for providing both insights into an incident and actionable recommendations for future responses.