Strategic leadership in cyber defense requires continuous evaluation and adaptation of incident response strategies to counter evolving threats effectively. Collaboration among key stakeholders, including law enforcement, threat intelligence teams, legal advisors, and system owners, is essential in determining the best course of action—whether to contain and eradicate a threat immediately or monitor an attack for deeper intelligence gathering. Real-world examples demonstrate how informed decision-making, guided by pre-planned incident response and crisis management plans, can significantly impact the effectiveness of cyber defense efforts. A proactive and well-coordinated approach ensures resilience, enhances threat mitigation, and ultimately strengthens the security of sensitive data and critical systems.