Formal incident response processes define a structured approach for organizations to detect, analyze, contain, and recover from security incidents. These processes help organizations respond to incidents in a timely and effective manner, minimizing the impact on their operations and reputation.
Key Elements of a Formal Incident Response Process:
- Incident Detection and Reporting:
- Establish mechanisms for employees, customers, or other stakeholders to report potential security incidents.
- Utilize security monitoring tools and SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) systems to detect and alert on suspicious activities.
- Incident Triage and Prioritization:
- Assess the severity and potential impact of reported incidents to determine their priority.
- Classify incidents based on type, such as data breach, malware infection, or denial-of-service attack.
- Incident Containment:
- Take immediate actions to contain the incident and prevent further damage or data loss.
- Isolate affected systems or network segments to limit the spread of the incident.
- Disable compromised user accounts or credentials.
- Incident Investigation:
- Gather evidence and conduct a thorough investigation to determine the root cause of the incident.
- Identify the source of the attack, the vulnerabilities exploited, and the impact on the organization.
- Document the findings and timeline of events related to the incident.
- Incident Eradication:
- Remediate the vulnerabilities exploited during the incident to prevent similar attacks in the future.
- Remove any malware or unauthorized software from affected systems.
- Implement additional security controls to strengthen the organization’s defenses.
- Incident Recovery:
- Restore affected systems and data to a known good state.
- Conduct testing to ensure that systems are functioning properly after recovery.
- Monitor systems closely for any signs of recurring or new incidents.
- Incident Post-mortem and Reporting:
- Conduct a post-mortem analysis to identify lessons learned and areas for improvement in the incident response process.
- Prepare a report summarizing the incident, its impact, and the actions taken to resolve it.
- Communicate the findings and recommendations to relevant stakeholders within the organization.
Examples:
- NIST Special Publication 800-61: Computer Security Incident Handling Guide
- ISO 27001/ISO 27002: Information Security Management Standards
- SANS Institute Incident Response Handbook
References:
- https://www.sans.org/blog/6-steps-for-creating-an-incident-response-plan/
- https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/security/incident-response-services/how-to-build-incident-response-plan.html
Tools and Products for Formal Incident Response Processes:
1. Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) Systems:
- Splunk: https://www.splunk.com/en_us/products/splunk-enterprise.html
- LogRhythm: https://www.logrhythm.com/
- IBM QRadar: https://www.ibm.com/products/qradar
2. Incident Response Platforms:
- FireEye Helix: https://www.fireeye.com/products/helix.html
- Mandiant Advantage: https://www.mandiant.com/products/mandiant-advantage
- Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSOAR: https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/products/cortex/xsoar
3. Threat Intelligence Platforms:
- VirusTotal: https://www.virustotal.com/
- AlienVault OTX: https://www.alienvault.com/products/otx
- LookingGlass Cyber Threat Intelligence Platform: https://www.lookingglasscyber.com/
4. Vulnerability Management Tools:
- Nessus: https://www.tenable.com/products/nessus
- Qualys VM: https://www.qualys.com/products/vm/
- Rapid7 Nexpose: https://www.rapid7.com/products/nexpose/
5. Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) Tools:
- CrowdStrike Falcon: https://www.crowdstrike.com/products/falcon-platform/
- SentinelOne: https://www.sentinelone.com/
- McAfee MVISION Endpoint Detection and Response: https://www.mcafee.com/enterprise/en-us/products/endpoint-security/endpoint-detection-and-response.html
6. Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) Platforms:
- ServiceNow Security Operations: https://www.servicenow.com/products/security-operations/
- IBM Resilient: https://www.ibm.com/products/resilient
- Demisto: https://www.demisto.com/
7. Incident Management Platforms:
- Jira Service Management: https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira/service-management/
- Zendesk Support: https://www.zendesk.com/support/
- Freshservice: https://freshservice.com/
8. Communication and Collaboration Tools:
- Slack: https://slack.com/
- Microsoft Teams: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/group-chat-software
- Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/
9. Playbooks and Runbooks:
- The MITRE ATT&CK Framework: https://attack.mitre.org/
- NIST Cybersecurity Framework: https://www.nist.gov/cyberframework
- CIS Controls: https://www.cisecurity.org/controls/
10. Training and Certification Programs:
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP): https://www.isc2.org/certifications/cissp
- CompTIA Security+: https://www.comptia.org/certifications/security
- Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH): https://www.eccouncil.org/programs/certified-ethical-hacker-ceh/
These tools and resources can help organizations implement and manage formal incident response processes, enabling them to respond to security incidents quickly and effectively.
Related Terms to Formal Incident Response Processes:
- Incident Management: The overall process of detecting, analyzing, containing, and recovering from security incidents.
- Security Operations Center (SOC): A centralized facility responsible for monitoring and responding to security incidents.
- Threat Intelligence: Information about potential or existing threats, vulnerabilities, and attack methods.
- Vulnerability Management: The process of identifying, assessing, and mitigating vulnerabilities in systems and applications.
- Risk Management: The process of identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks to an organization’s information assets.
- Business Continuity Planning: The process of developing plans and procedures to ensure that an organization can continue to operate during and after a disruptive event.
- Disaster Recovery Planning: The process of developing plans and procedures to recover IT systems and data after a major disruption or disaster.
- Cybersecurity Framework: A set of guidelines and best practices for managing cybersecurity risks.
- Incident Response Plan: A documented plan that outlines the steps and procedures to be taken in the event of a security incident.
- Post-Incident Review: The process of analyzing an incident after it has occurred to identify lessons learned and improve future response efforts.
- Tabletop Exercise: A simulated incident response exercise that allows organizations to test their plans and procedures.
- Penetration Testing: A simulated attack on an organization’s systems to identify vulnerabilities and improve security.
- Security Awareness Training: Training for employees on how to recognize and respond to security threats.
- Incident Reporting: The process of documenting and reporting security incidents to relevant stakeholders.
These related terms are all part of a comprehensive approach to cybersecurity and incident response. By understanding and implementing these concepts, organizations can better protect themselves from security threats and minimize the impact of incidents.
Prerequisites
Before implementing formal incident response processes, organizations need to have the following in place:
- Strong Cybersecurity Foundation: This includes implementing basic security measures such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and anti-malware software.
- Security Awareness and Training: Employees should be educated about their roles and responsibilities in protecting the organization’s information assets.
- Incident Detection and Monitoring: Organizations need to have systems in place to detect and monitor security incidents. This may include security information and event management (SIEM) systems, intrusion detection systems (IDS), and log monitoring tools.
- Incident Response Plan: A documented plan that outlines the steps and procedures to be taken in the event of a security incident. This plan should be regularly reviewed and updated.
- Incident Response Team: A team of trained and experienced individuals responsible for responding to security incidents. This team should have clear roles and responsibilities, and be available 24/7.
- Communication and Collaboration Tools: Organizations need to have tools and processes in place to facilitate communication and collaboration among the incident response team and other stakeholders.
- Vulnerability Management Program: A program to identify, assess, and mitigate vulnerabilities in systems and applications. This program should include regular scanning and patching of systems.
- Threat Intelligence: Organizations should have access to threat intelligence feeds and analysis to stay informed about the latest threats and vulnerabilities.
- Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Plans: Organizations should have plans in place to ensure that they can continue to operate during and after a security incident or other disruptive event.
By having these elements in place, organizations can establish a formal incident response process that will help them to quickly and effectively respond to security incidents, minimize the impact of these incidents, and improve their overall security posture.
What’s next?
After implementing formal incident response processes, organizations should focus on the following:
- Continuous Improvement: Regularly review and update incident response plans and procedures based on lessons learned from past incidents and industry best practices.
- Training and Exercises: Provide ongoing training to incident response team members to ensure they are up-to-date on the latest threats and response techniques. Conduct regular tabletop exercises and simulations to test and improve incident response capabilities.
- Collaboration and Information Sharing: Share information about security incidents and threats with other organizations and industry peers. Participate in information sharing communities and forums to stay informed about emerging threats and trends.
- Metrics and Measurement: Establish metrics to measure the effectiveness of incident response processes. This may include metrics such as incident response time, mean time to resolution, and the number of incidents successfully contained and resolved.
- Integration with Other Security Programs: Integrate incident response processes with other security programs, such as vulnerability management, security awareness training, and business continuity planning. This will ensure a comprehensive and coordinated approach to cybersecurity.
- Compliance and Regulatory Requirements: Ensure that incident response processes align with relevant compliance and regulatory requirements, such as those defined by industry standards (e.g., ISO 27001) or government regulations (e.g., GDPR).
- Automation and Orchestration: Explore opportunities to automate and orchestrate incident response tasks to improve efficiency and reduce manual effort. This may involve the use of security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR) platforms.
By focusing on these areas, organizations can continuously improve their incident response capabilities and ensure that they are prepared to effectively respond to and mitigate security incidents.