When cyber incidents occur, some organizations thrive while others founder. The differences aren't a matter of luck--they lie in preparation, tooling, and decision-making under pressure. This panel brings together outside experts with firsthand experience guiding countless organizations through high-stakes cyber incidents. Through real-world examples and discussion, the panel will examine some of the steps that separate IR success from IR catastrophe. Panelists will explore key organizational and technical differentiators at every stage of the IR lifecycle, including effective pre-incident planning, robust security tooling, vendor engagement, evidence management, and even early litigation defense strategies. Panelists also will cover essential considerations for avoiding insurance denials and building effective defenses in regulatory investigations. Attendees will gain practical insights into how resilient organizations prepare for cyber crises, common pitfalls that undermine response efforts, and concrete steps leaders can take now to improve their organization’s ability to respond decisively when it matters most.