PARUL VASHISTHA

Security Operations
Code:BCYCCA5101
UNIT-4
 Incident Response Plan

An incident response plan is a set of documented procedures detailing the steps that
should be taken in each phase of incident response. It should include guidelines for roles
and responsibilities, communication plans, and standardized response protocols.
Within your plan it is important to use clear language and define any ambiguous terms.
One set of terms that are frequently confused is event, alert, and incident. When using
these terms in your plan, it can help to restrict use as follows:
Event—a change in system settings, status, or communication. Examples include server
requests, permissions update, or the deletion of data.
Alert—a notification triggered by an event. Alerts can warn of suspicious events or of
normal events that need your attention. For example,the use of an unused port vs storage
resources running low.
Incident—an event that puts your system at risk. For example, theft of credentials or
installation of malware.
 7 Reasons You Need an Incident Response Plan
A strong incident response process can dramatically reduce the damage caused to an
organization when disaster strikes. An incident response plan helps codify and distribute the
incident response plan across the organization.
Here are the main reasons you must have a strong incident response plan in place:
Prepares you for emergency—security incidents happen without warning, so it’s essential to
prepare a process ahead of time
Repeatable process—without an incident response plan, teams cannot respond in a repeatable
manner or prioritize their time
Coordination—in large organizations, it can be hard to keep everyone in the loop during a
crisis. An incident response process can help achieve this
Exposes gaps—in mid-sized organizations with limited staff or limited technical maturity, an
incident response plan exposes obvious gaps in the security process or tooling which can be
addressed before a crisis occurs
Preserves critical knowledge—an incident response plan ensures critical knowledge and best
practices for dealing with a crisis are not forgotten over time and lessons learned are
incrementally added
Practice makes perfect—an incident response plan creates a clear, repeatable process that is
followed in every incident, improving coordination and effectiveness of response over time
Documentation and accountability—an incident response plan with clear documentation
reduces an organization’s liability—it allows you to demonstrate to compliance auditors or
authorities what was done to prevent the breach
 Purpose of Incident Response Plan
The purpose of an Incident Response Plan (IRP) is to outline a structured and coordinated approach
for effectively managing and mitigating security incidents within an organization. An incident can
refer to any event that jeopardizes the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of an organization's
data, systems, or network. This can include cyberattacks, data breaches, malware infections,
unauthorized access, and more. The primary objectives of an Incident Response Plan are as follows:
Timely Detection and Response: The IRP aims to detect and respond to incidents promptly. This
helps minimize the potential damage and limit the exposure of sensitive information.
Minimize Impact: The plan outlines steps to contain and mitigate the incident's impact on the
organization's operations, data, reputation, and finances.
Coordination: An IRP establishes roles, responsibilities, and communication protocols for various
teams and individuals involved in incident response. This coordination ensures a cohesive effort to
address the incident.
Preserve Evidence: The plan outlines procedures for preserving evidence related to the incident. This
evidence can be crucial for legal, regulatory, or forensic purposes.
Legal and Regulatory Compliance: An effective IRP helps the organization comply with relevant
laws, regulations, and industry standards. This is important for avoiding penalties and maintaining
trust with stakeholders.
Communication: The plan defines communication strategies for both internal and external
stakeholders, such as employees, customers, partners, law enforcement, and regulatory bodies. Clear
and transparent communication is essential during an incident to manage public relations and maintain
trust.
 Requirements of Incident Response Plan
An effective Incident Response Plan (IRP) should encompass various key components and
requirements to ensure a comprehensive and well-structured approach to managing security incidents.
Here are the essential requirements that should be included in an IRP:
Policy Statement and Objectives:
Define the purpose and scope of the IRP.
Outline the organization's commitment to addressing security incidents promptly and effectively.
State the goals and objectives of the incident response process.
Roles and Responsibilities:
Identify individuals and teams responsible for different aspects of incident response.
Clearly define roles such as incident coordinator, communication lead, technical responders, legal
representatives, and management representatives.
Incident Categorization and Severity Levels:
Establish a system for categorizing incidents based on their impact, severity, and type.
Define severity levels to guide the appropriate response actions based on the incident's criticality.
Incident Detection and Reporting:
Describe methods for detecting incidents, such as intrusion detection systems, logs analysis, and
employee reports.
Outline reporting procedures for employees and stakeholders to ensure timely notification of
incidents.
Response Procedures:
Detail step-by-step procedures for responding to different types of incidents.
Include containment, eradication, and recovery steps for each incident category.
Specify actions for preserving evidence and maintaining the chain of custody.
Communication and Notification:
Define communication protocols for internal and external stakeholders.
Specify who needs to be informed about the incident, when, and how.
Address public relations, customer communication, and legal obligations.
Legal and Regulatory Compliance:
Provide guidance on complying with applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards
during incident response.
Include steps for reporting incidents to relevant authorities as required.
Evidence Handling and Forensics:
Describe procedures for collecting, preserving, and analyzing digital evidence.
Ensure that evidence is handled in a manner that maintains its integrity for potential legal
actions.
Containment and Eradication:
Outline techniques for isolating and containing the incident to prevent further damage.
Detail strategies for removing malicious software, closing vulnerabilities, and mitigating risks.
 Incident Response and Handling Steps- Identification,
Incident Recording, Initial Response
incident response and handling involve a series of coordinated steps to effectively detect,
manage, and mitigate security incidents. Here are the initial steps of incident response:
Identification:
The first step involves identifying potential security incidents. This can be done through various
means, including automated tools (such as intrusion detection systems), employee reports,
security logs, and anomaly detection systems.
Monitoring network traffic, system logs, and user behavior can help identify unusual patterns or
activities that might indicate a security incident.
Incident Recording:
Once an incident is identified, it should be promptly documented. Accurate and thorough
documentation is crucial for maintaining a record of the incident's details, actions taken, and
outcomes.
Create an incident record that includes information such as the date and time of detection, type
of incident, initial assessment of impact and severity, and the person or system that detected the
incident.
Initial Response:
As soon as an incident is identified and recorded, initiate the initial response phase to minimize
the potential impact and gather preliminary information.
The initial response should include the following steps:
Isolation and Containment: If the incident involves malware, unauthorized access,
or other malicious activity, isolate affected systems or networks to prevent the
incident from spreading further.
Alert Appropriate Personnel: Notify the incident response team and relevant
stakeholders according to the organization's communication protocols.
Gather Initial Information: Collect basic details about the incident, including the
affected systems, potential vulnerabilities exploited, and any initial observations.
Assign an Incident Coordinator: Designate a person to lead the incident response
efforts. This individual will coordinate actions, manage communication, and ensure
that the response process is followed effectively.
Secure Evidence: Begin preserving evidence related to the incident. This can
include logs, files, network traffic captures, and other relevant data that might be
useful for analysis and investigation.
Notify Legal and Compliance Teams: If necessary, involve legal and compliance
teams to ensure that response actions are in line with legal and regulatory
requirements.
Engage Technical Experts: Depending on the nature of the incident, involve
technical experts who can provide insights into the incident's technical details and
potential remediation steps.
 Eradication, Systems Recovery
Continuing from the initial incident response steps, let's delve into the eradication and systems
recovery phases of the incident response process:
Eradication: Eradication involves identifying and removing the root causes of the incident to
prevent it from reoccurring and to ensure that the organization's systems are secure. Here's how
you can approach this phase:
Root Cause Analysis: Investigate the incident thoroughly to identify how the attacker gained
access, what vulnerabilities were exploited, and any weaknesses in the organization's security
controls. This analysis helps you understand the underlying causes of the incident.
Patch and Remediation: Apply necessary patches, updates, and fixes to address vulnerabilities
that were exploited during the incident. This might involve updating software, changing
configurations, or implementing security measures to prevent similar attacks.
Password Resets and Access Control: Change passwords for compromised accounts and
systems. Review and adjust access controls to ensure that only authorized individuals have access
to critical resources.
Malware Removal: If malware was involved, thoroughly scan and clean affected systems to
ensure that no remnants of the malware remain. Consider using updated antivirus software and
forensic tools.
Implement Security Improvements: Based on the root cause analysis, implement security
improvements and best practices to strengthen the organization's overall security posture. This
might involve revising security policies, enhancing network segmentation, and improving user
awareness.
Systems Recovery: Once the threat has been eradicated and the environment is secure, the
systems recovery phase focuses on restoring affected systems, services, and data to normal
operation. Here's what to consider during this phase:
Data Restoration: If data was affected or lost during the incident, restore it from backups.
Ensure that backups are clean and free from malware before restoration.
Testing: Thoroughly test restored systems and services to ensure that they are functioning as
expected and that no residual vulnerabilities or issues remain.
Validation: Validate that the eradication efforts were successful by monitoring systems and
network traffic for any signs of continued compromise.
User Communication: Inform users and stakeholders about the resolution of the incident
and the steps taken to secure the systems. Provide guidance on any temporary changes or
precautions they might need to take.
Lessons Learned: Conduct a post-incident review to identify areas for improvement in the
incident response process and overall security posture. Use the insights gained from the
incident to enhance future response efforts.
Documentation: Update the incident documentation with details about the eradication and
recovery process. Document any changes made to systems, configurations, and security
measures.
Communication with Stakeholders: Keep stakeholders, such as customers, partners, and
regulatory authorities, informed about the incident's resolution and the steps taken to prevent
future incidents.
 Incident Documentation, Incident Damage and Cost
Assessment Review and Update the Response Policies
Incident Documentation: Thorough and accurate documentation is a cornerstone
of effective incident response. Properly documenting all aspects of the incident
allows the organization to maintain a historical record and facilitates post-incident
analysis and learning. Key documentation includes:
Incident Report: Create a comprehensive incident report that details the incident's
timeline, impact, response actions, and outcomes. This report serves as a reference
for future incidents and can be valuable for regulatory compliance and legal
purposes.
Evidence Logs: Document all evidence collected during the incident, including
logs, screenshots, network traffic captures, and any other relevant data. Maintain a
chain of custody for digital evidence to ensure its integrity.
Communication Records: Maintain records of all communication related to the
incident. This includes internal team discussions, external stakeholder notifications,
and any interactions with law enforcement or regulatory bodies.
Lessons Learned: Document insights gained from the incident response process.
Record what went well, what could be improved, and any recommendations for
enhancing future incident response efforts.
Incident Damage and Cost Assessment: Conducting a comprehensive assessment of the
damage and costs associated with the incident is important for several reasons:
Quantifying Impact: Evaluate the direct and indirect impact of the incident on the
organization's operations, reputation, finances, and customer trust.
Cost Analysis: Estimate the financial costs incurred due to the incident, including incident
response expenses, legal fees, customer support costs, and potential fines or penalties.
Recovery Time: Assess the time and effort required to fully recover and restore affected
systems and services to normal operation.
Forensic Analysis: If the incident involved a breach, consider the potential cost of forensic
investigations and legal actions.
Review and Update the Response Policies: After the incident has been managed and
resolved, it's important to engage in a continuous improvement cycle by reviewing and
updating your incident response policies and procedures:
Post-Incident Review: Gather key stakeholders involved in the incident response process for a
post-incident review meeting. Discuss what worked well and what could be improved.
Lessons Learned: Document the lessons learned from the incident. This can include technical
insights, process improvements, and recommendations for enhancing the organization's
security posture.
Policy Updates: Based on the insights gained from the incident, update your incident response
policies and procedures. This might involve refining response steps, adjusting communication
protocols, or enhancing technical controls.
 Defining the Relationship between Incident Response,
Incident Handling, and Incident Management
Certainly, here are the key differences between incident response, incident handling, and incident
management:
Incident Response:
Definition: Incident response is a comprehensive approach to managing and mitigating the
aftermath of a security incident.
Focus: It focuses on the entire process of preparing for, responding to, recovering from, and
learning from security incidents.
Scope: It includes both technical and organizational aspects, encompassing actions, policies,
procedures, communication, and coordination.
Goals: The primary goal is to minimize the impact of incidents and improve the
organization's ability to handle future incidents effectively.
Activities: Activities include detecting incidents, containing threats, eradicating
vulnerabilities, recovering systems, preserving evidence, and improving security measures.
Incident Handling:
Definition: Incident handling is a subset of incident response that specifically deals with the
tactical and operational aspects of addressing an incident.
Focus: It focuses on the immediate actions taken once an incident is detected to contain and
mitigate the incident's impact.
 Scope: It involves technical actions like isolating affected systems, collecting
evidence, and implementing initial measures to stop the incident from spreading.
Goals: The main goal is to limit the damage caused by the incident and prevent it
from escalating further.
Activities: Activities include isolating compromised systems, assessing the
extent of the breach, analyzing the attack vectors, and taking initial actions to
mitigate the incident.
Incident Management:
Definition: Incident management is the strategic planning and coordination of an
organization's entire incident response process.
Focus: It focuses on the organizational aspects of incident response, including
policy development, resource allocation, and communication.
Scope: It encompasses the broader picture of establishing incident response
policies, defining roles, and ensuring compliance with regulations.
Goals: The main goal is to ensure that incidents are managed in an organized
and effective manner, aligning with the organization's strategic objectives.
Activities: Activities include setting up incident response teams, defining
escalation paths, establishing communication protocols, and making decisions
about resource allocation and response strategies.