In today’s digital age, organizations face an increasing number of cyber threats that can disrupt operations and compromise sensitive information. To tackle these incidents effectively, organizations need a well-structured framework. This article aims to guide organizations in developing a comprehensive Critical Incident Handling Plan that will help them navigate the complex world of cyber incidents.
The first step in creating the plan is to define a clear mission statement. This statement should express the organization’s commitment to responding to and mitigating cyber threats effectively. It sets the tone for the entire plan and communicates the organization’s dedication to protecting its constituents.
Next, it is crucial to identify the constituents the organization serves and safeguards. This involves determining the entities or individuals who will benefit from the plan. Clearly outlining the scope of the organization’s responsibilities will help ensure a targeted and effective response.
The plan should address both reactive and proactive services provided by the organization. Reactive services focus on incident response, containment, and recovery. Proactive services encompass activities such as threat intelligence, vulnerability assessments, and security awareness programs. Emphasizing the importance of service accessibility ensures that constituents can easily reach out to the organization during cyber incidents.
To facilitate communication and incident reporting, the plan should provide relevant contact information, including details on how to reach the organization’s incident response team. It is also important to outline the structure of the organization and the roles and responsibilities of the team members responsible for addressing cyber incidents.
The Policies and Operations section of the plan establishes the policies that govern the organization’s operations. These policies include a Code of Conduct, which sets ethical guidelines and expected professional behavior for team members. An Information classification, protection, access, and dissemination policy determines how sensitive data should be handled and securely distributed. The Information retention and destruction policy establishes procedures for data retention and secure disposal. An Acceptable Use policy defines rules and guidelines for the use of organizational resources and systems. Additionally, a policy for cooperation with other teams emphasizes the significance of coordination with external teams and stakeholders in responding effectively to cyber incidents.
To ensure seamless coordination between incident response activities and service management processes, the incident response plan should be integrated with the organization’s service management. This alignment ensures clear communication channels and accountability during cyber incidents. By incorporating cybersecurity incident response playbooks into the plan, the organization can significantly enhance its ability to respond promptly and confidently to different types of incidents. These playbooks provide predefined steps and procedures tailored to specific attack scenarios, ensuring consistency and adherence to best practices throughout the incident response process.
To address incidents that may escalate into larger-scale disruptions, it is important to merge the disaster recovery plan with the incident response plan. This comprehensive approach allows the organization to anticipate and mitigate the potential impact on critical systems and infrastructure, enabling more effective incident handling.
The development of the incident response plan should cover crucial aspects such as detection and notification, impact assessment, response and recovery, and subsequent follow-up actions. By integrating repeatable processes for root cause analysis and post-incident review, the organization can learn from incidents and make significant improvements to the plan. Established standards from organizations such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST) offer valuable incident response steps that can serve as a reference during the plan’s preparation. Similarly, the SANS Institute outlines incident response steps, including preparation, identification, containment, eradication, recovery, and lessons learned. Consulting these accepted standards ensures that the plan aligns with industry best practices.
The creation of a Critical Incident Handling Plan is a paramount undertaking for organizations seeking to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats. By following a structured framework encompassing a clear mission statement, defined constituents, and a focus on both reactive and proactive services, organizations can proactively protect themselves and their constituents from the detrimental impacts of cyber incidents.