Interscale Content Hub – If you want to protect your digital assets and keep your business running smoothly, you need an cybersecurity incident response plan (IRP), a structured framework that outlines the steps an organization takes to identify, contain, and recover from a security breach or cyberattack. But how to make a cybersecurity incident response plan?
There are a few key steps we need to follow. OK, let’s get down to the nuts and bolts of each stage.
Stages of a Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan
Building a solid IRP involves a few key steps. Each one helps to create a structured and effective response to cybersecurity incidents. This section refers to content from the “Cyber-Security Incident Response Template“ and the “Cybersecurity Incident Response Plans” document by the US Department of Health and Human Services“. plus some adjustments.
Let’s break it down.
Stages 1: Preparation
The first step in creating an IRP is to get ready. This phase is all about giving the organization the tools, teams, and processes it needs to handle incidents effectively.
The first thing we do is do a really thorough risk assessment to identify and evaluate any potential threats and vulnerabilities in the IT infrastructure. This assessment looks at both external and internal threats, so we can see what they might do to the company.
You’ve got to get an Incident Response Team (IRT) together. This team, made up of people from different departments, including IT, legal, public relations, and management, is there to make sure that everything is done right when an incident happens. Each member brings their own special skills to the table, making the team a well-rounded bunch when it comes to incident management.
Another vital aspect is developing and documenting clear policies and procedures. These documents lay out what constitutes an incident, who’s responsible for what, and how we communicate.
Training and awareness programs are key to keeping everyone ready. We make sure all employees get regular training so they know what to do in an emergency.
IRT members get to test out their response strategies in simulated exercises, like tabletop exercises. This helps them get real-world experience and make any necessary adjustments to their response plans.
Kindly read “Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan: Benefits, Template, and Tools,” for basic understanding of IRP.
Stages 2: Identification
The identification stage is a big deal for spotting and confirming potential security incidents. If you catch something early, you can usually avoid a lot of damage.
By using and keeping an eye on the latest security tools, like intrusion detection systems (IDS) and security information and event management (SIEM) systems, companies can spot any suspicious activity. These tools are really useful for spotting irregularities that could signal a security breach, which means you can respond quickly.
Also, it’s key to have a solid way to categorize incidents based on how bad they are and how much they’ll affect the company. This helps us decide what to do first and make sure we use our resources wisely.
If you know what kind of incident it is and what the potential consequences could be, you can respond more efficiently and try to avoid any bad effects.
Stages 3: Containment
The containment phase is all about limiting the damage caused by an incident and preventing it from spreading. This stage is all about putting together both short-term and long-term plans to secure the affected areas and get things back to normal.
The short-term containment phase is all about taking quick action to isolate the affected systems and stop any further damage. This could mean disconnecting any devices that have been compromised from the network or blocking any malicious IP addresses. These quick fixes are designed to stop the incident in its tracks and limit the damage it causes.
Long-term containment means finding more long-lasting solutions to keep the affected areas safe. This might mean installing patches to fix any vulnerabilities, changing access controls to prevent unauthorized entry, or enhancing security configurations to strengthen the organization’s defenses.
If the organization addresses the root causes and reinforces its security measures, it can ensure a more secure environment and reduce the risk of future incidents.
Stages 4: Eradication
Eradication is a key stage where we focus on getting rid of the root cause of the problem completely.
To make sure the threat is completely gone and won’t come back, we do a deep dive into what caused it. This analysis helps us figure out where the incident came from and how it got into the system.
Once we know where the breach came from and how it happened, we can get rid of all traces of the threat, like malware. To fix the problem, we need to apply software updates, manage patches, and enhance security measures to make the system more secure in the future.
Stages 5: Recovery
Once the disaster is over, it’s time to get the system back up and running. This means making sure everything is clean and secure.
The first thing we do is restore the system. This means getting the affected systems and data back from the backups. We make sure they’re malware-free and secure.
Once done, we run a series of tests and checks to make sure everything’s working as it should be. This means doing thorough penetration testing and vulnerability assessments to make sure the recovery process was a success and that the systems can handle any potential threats.
Stages 6: Lessons Learned
Another vital point to create a incident response process is to look over everything that happened and how it was handled to see where things could be improved. After the incident, we do a review to document what happened, see what went well, and figure out what we need to work on.
This review helps us understand what went well and what we could have done better. Based on what we’ve learned, we update and improve the Incident Response Plan (IRP) to incorporate new strategies to prevent similar incidents in the future.
This process of continuous improvement means that the organization is better prepared for future incidents and can respond more effectively. You can read the article “The Digital Heist: Newbie Guide to Cybersecurity for Financial Institutions,” for specific-industry cases.
Stages 7: Retesting
Retesting solidifies the last stages of an incident response plan by focusing on evaluating the effectiveness of the implemented fixes and adjustments post-recovery.
After recovery, systems may appear to function normally, but latent vulnerabilities could still exist. This phase involves conducting penetration tests, vulnerability assessments, and system audits to ensure all threats have been eliminated and security measures are functioning as intended.
By incorporating retesting into the phases of an incident response plan, organizations not only verify recovery efforts but also reinforce their preparedness for future incidents. It creates a feedback loop that aligns with continuous improvement strategies, ensuring resilience in an ever-evolving threat landscape.
This perspective emphasizes the importance of not just responding to incidents but also learning and fortifying defenses proactively, bridging gaps that might otherwise compromise system integrity. This makes retesting a vital addition to any robust cybersecurity framework.
How Often Should an Incident Response Plan Be Updated?
How often the updates are made depends on a few things, like how big and complicated the company is, what industry it’s in, and how fast technology is changing.
An incident response plan (IRP) needs to keep up with the ever-changing threat landscape and organizational changes to stay effective. To keep the plan up-to-date, it’s important to review and update it regularly. At a minimum, you should review and update your IRP at least once a year.
This keeps the plan up to date with the latest security threats and technological advances.
But if there are any big changes in the company, like updates to the IT infrastructure, changes to business processes, or new security threats, then the IRP needs to be reviewed and updated right away. These updates make sure the plan reflects the current security environment and the organization’s needs.
How Can We Test the Effectiveness of Our Incident Response Plan?
There are lots of ways to test the plan thoroughly, so we can spot any weaknesses and areas for improvement.
One of the best ways to test the plan is to run tabletop exercises. These exercises are designed to simulate real-life incidents and help us practice our response efforts. They also help us identify any gaps in the plan.
Running through theoretical situations helps the Incident Response Team (IRT) get to know their roles and responsibilities, which makes them more ready for actual incidents. These exercises should be done at least once a year, with semi-annual exercises being the ideal way to stay prepared.
Another good way to test the plan is with red team exercises. These are where ethical hackers try to hack into the organization’s systems in a realistic way.
This approach helps test how well the defenses hold up and how effective the response strategies are. It gives a realistic idea of how the IRP performs under pressure and helps to improve the security posture.
It’s also important to do post-incident reviews. After each real incident, we do a full review to see how we did and what we can learn from it. This practice helps the IRP keep getting better, so the organization is better prepared for future incidents.
By testing and updating the IRP regularly, it stays a living document that can adapt to new threats and changes in the organization. By using these testing methods, organizations can keep their incident response strategy up to date and effective, so they can minimize damage and get back to normal faster when something goes wrong.
How to Execute IRP Steps Effectively?
With so much to consider, it can be hard to keep up. And in many cases, organizations struggle with monitoring, threat detection, compliance, and training details.
This complexity of IRP can lead to problems. That’s why we at Interscale offer a solution for all your cybersecurity needs.
With our advanced tools and expertise, we simplify incident response. Our experts will create a custom plan for your organization.
Interscale’s work with Davey Water Products shows how we can deliver effective cybersecurity solutions. By teaming up with Interscale, Davey Water Products was able to beef up their cybersecurity and keep their most important assets safe from potential threats.
If you’d like to learn more about how Interscale can help you manage cybersecurity, visit our Interscale Cybersecurity Service page. Or, do you need help right away? Schedule a one-on-one with us! We’re here for you.
Conclusion
Just a heads-up: An IRP needs to be kept up to date and tested regularly to stay effective. Keeping your organization up to date and testing everything thoroughly will help keep it safe from new threats.
With the right prep and resources, you can make sure your organization is ready to handle any cybersecurity challenges. Knowing how to make a cybersecurity incident response plan is key to keeping your defenses strong and your business resilient.
FAQ About How to Make Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan
What is a Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan?
A cybersecurity incident response plan is a structured guide for identifying, managing, and recovering from cyber incidents. It outlines processes like containment, eradication, and recovery to minimize damage and downtime.
What Tools are Available to Make an Incident Response Plan?
Tools for creating an incident response plan include technical frameworks and automated software. The NIST SP 800-61 Guide offers procedural templates, while SIEM tools like Splunk or QRadar detect and log incidents for rapid response. For team coordination, platforms like Microsoft Teams or Slack with playbooks streamline communication. ACSC also emphasizes checklists and readiness templates to align responses with specific threat types.
