Essential Components of an Incident Response Plan: What Every Business Needs to Know

Source: Net Diligence

In today’s world, cyber attacks and security breaches are all too common, yet many organizations still lack robust incident response plans. Surprisingly, less than half of companies (42.7%) have a cybersecurity incident response plan that they test annually or more frequently. Alarmingly, one in five organizations has no plan at all. In the digital age, every business must understand the components of an incident response plan (IRP) and implement one. A well-crafted IRP can:

  • Prevent chaos during a breach by establishing clear action steps, roles, and responsibilities.

  • Mitigate damage quickly to minimize business interruptions and reduce recovery costs.

  • Ensure a comprehensive and organized response, avoiding ineffective scattershot approaches.

  • Comply with stringent cybersecurity regulations.

  • Rebuild trust with customers and partners, protecting your reputation and revenue.

  • Strengthen overall security posture, meet regulatory obligations, and reduce litigation risks.

While it’s impossible to prepare for every conceivable threat, having a detailed command structure and processes in place can help your organization respond strategically and minimize damage.

At NetDiligence, we aim to help businesses enhance their cybersecurity incident management. Here’s an overview of the four key components of an incident response plan:

The Four Steps of the Incident Response Process

1. Preparation

Preparation involves using risk assessments to strengthen your networks, systems, applications, and devices. Define your incident response team roles and responsibilities in advance. Even if you hire an external response team, internal team members are crucial for effective communication during a crisis. Ensure your incident response communication channels are ready, including:

  • Contact information for all responders

  • On-call information for incident escalation

  • Incident reporting channels (phone numbers, email addresses, online forms, secure messaging)

  • A “war room” for central communication and coordination

  • Backup storage facilities and networks for communication, evidence, and sensitive material

2. Detection and Analysis

Cyber events can go undetected for long periods. Your plan must include processes for verifying incidents and assessing their impact. Warning systems might include:

  • Automated alerts from Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPSs), antivirus software, or log analyzers

  • Alerts from network intrusion sensors or file integrity-checking software

  • Alerts from third-party monitoring services

  • Manual discovery via user reports

Once an event is verified, analyze its scope and impact by assessing:

  • Functional Impact: How has the incident disrupted your services?

  • Information Impact: What sensitive data was affected?

  • Recoverability: How fully can your organization recover, and what resources are needed?

3. Containment, Eradication, and Recovery

Containment involves stopping the threat, which may include shutting down systems or disconnecting networks. Consider factors like potential damage, evidence preservation, service maintenance, and resource needs. Eradication requires removing all traces of the threat, such as disabling breached accounts, deleting malware, and addressing vulnerabilities. Recovery involves restoring normal operations, which may include using backups, rebuilding systems, changing passwords, and tightening security.

4. Post-Incident Improvement

After an incident, review what happened and how it was handled. Identify corrective actions, tools, or resources to prevent future incidents. Assess the attack’s impact, both monetary and non-monetary, to justify increased cybersecurity funding.

By following these steps, your organization can better prepare for and respond to cyber incidents, minimizing damage and ensuring a swift recovery.

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