Building Cyber Resilience - An In-Depth Guide to Incident Response Management

Comprehensive Incident Response Guide

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Preparation Phase
3. Detection and Analysis Phase
4. Containment Phase
5. Eradication Phase
6. Recovery Phase
7. Post-Incident Activities
8. Board Notification and Governance
9. Incident Response for Specific Threats
10. Incident Response Team Roles and Responsibilities
11. Communication Plan
12. Legal and Regulatory Considerations
13. Templates and Checklists
14. Tools and Resources
15. Glossary

Introduction

Purpose

This incident response guide provides a structured framework for identifying, responding to, and recovering from cybersecurity incidents. It is designed to minimize damage, reduce recovery time and costs, preserve evidence for potential legal proceedings, and ensure proper governance through board involvement and oversight.

Scope

This guide applies to all information systems, networks, data, physical locations, and personnel within the organization. It establishes procedures for incident detection, analysis, containment, eradication, recovery, and proper governance through board oversight.

Document Control

• Version: 2.0
• Date: April 13, 2025
• Owner: [Security Team]
• Review Cycle: Annual
• Last Review: [Date]
• Approved By: [Board of Directors/Security Committee]

Preparation Phase

Establish an Incident Response Team

• Identify key personnel from IT, security, legal, HR, communications, executive management, and board representatives
• Define clear roles and responsibilities with explicit reporting lines
• Document escalation paths to executive management and the board
• Ensure 24/7 availability through on-call rotations
• Maintain updated contact information for all team members
• Conduct regular tabletop exercises including board participation
• Create backup personnel assignments for critical roles
• Develop skills matrix to identify training needs and expertise gaps

Develop and Document Policies and Procedures

• Create incident classification and severity levels with board notification thresholds
• Establish detailed escalation procedures including timing for board notification
• Implement communication protocols for internal and external stakeholders
• Document evidence handling procedures and chain of custody requirements
• Define legal and regulatory compliance requirements by jurisdiction
• Create board reporting templates and cadence
• Develop incident closure criteria and post-mortem processes
• Establish SLAs for response times based on incident severity

Create Response Toolkit

• Hardware inventory and asset management tools
• Network mapping and dependency visualization tools
• Forensic analysis tools and write-blockers for evidence collection
• System backup and recovery tools with verified restoration processes
• Secure communication tools (encrypted messaging, conference bridges)
• Documentation templates (incident reports, chain of custody forms, board briefings)
• Digital forensics workstations and storage media
• Log aggregation and analysis platforms
• Threat intelligence platforms and feeds

Implement Security Controls

• Network security (next-gen firewalls, IDS/IPS, SIEM, NDR)
• Endpoint security (EDR, XDR, anti-malware, application whitelisting)
• Access controls and multi-factor authentication systems
• Data encryption for data at rest and in transit
• Physical security controls and monitoring systems
• Regular security assessments and penetration testing
• Cloud security posture management
• Email security and anti-phishing controls
• Web application firewalls and API security

Training and Awareness

• Regular technical training for incident response team members
• Tabletop exercises and simulations with executive participation
• Board-level cybersecurity awareness training
• Organization-wide security awareness training with role-specific content
• Incident reporting procedures training for all staff
• Phishing simulation and awareness campaigns
• Social engineering awareness training
• Training effectiveness metrics and improvement processes
• Regulatory compliance training for legal and compliance teams

Establish Baseline

• Document normal network traffic patterns and create behavioral baselines
• Create system and application performance baselines
• Identify critical assets, crown jewels, and dependencies
• Document system configurations and approved software inventory
• Map data flows and access patterns
• Establish metrics for normal user behavior
• Document authorized service accounts and privileged users
• Create network segmentation maps and control points

Detection and Analysis Phase

Incident Detection Methods

• Automated alerts from security tools (SIEM, IDS/IPS, EDR, UEBA)
• User/customer reports through designated channels
• Help desk tickets with security classifications
• Threat intelligence feeds and dark web monitoring
• System logs and continuous monitoring
• Vulnerability scanning and penetration testing results
• Third-party notifications (partners, vendors, ISACs)
• Honeypots and deception technology
• File integrity monitoring alerts
• Unusual patterns in data access or exfiltration

Initial Assessment

• Verify the incident is genuine through multiple data sources
• Determine the scope and impact using a standardized framework
• Identify affected systems, services, and data with data classification
• Estimate business impact using predefined metrics
• Assess potential for data breach or exfiltration
• Determine if regulatory reporting thresholds are triggered
• Assign initial severity level based on established criteria
• Document initial findings for further analysis
• Determine if board notification thresholds are met

Incident Classification

1. Critical - Severe impact on business operations, sensitive data breach, widespread system compromise, board notification mandatory within 4 hours
   • Examples: Ransomware with encryption of critical systems, confirmed breach of regulated data, attacks affecting life safety systems
   • Immediate response required with executive leadership involvement
   • Board notification required via established emergency protocols
   • Potential activation of business continuity/disaster recovery plans
2. High - Significant impact on business operations, potential data breach, multiple system compromise, board notification required within 12 hours
   • Examples: Targeted attacks, malware on multiple critical systems, loss of sensitive business data
   • IR team activation with regular updates to executive leadership
   • Notification to board incident response liaison or committee chair
   • Business impact assessments required
3. Medium - Limited impact on business operations, no sensitive data breach, isolated system compromise, board notification within 24-48 hours based on circumstances
   • Examples: Contained malware incidents, limited unauthorized access, DDoS affecting non-critical services
   • Containment and resolution by security team with management updates
   • Documented in periodic board security reports
4. Low - Minimal impact on business operations, no data breach, easily contained threat, board notification in regular reporting cycles
   • Examples: Isolated policy violations, unsuccessful attacks, minor security events
   • Handled through standard security processes
   • Tracked for trend analysis and reported in aggregate

Evidence Collection

• Capture volatile data first (RAM, running processes, network connections, command history)
• Create forensic images of affected systems using write-blockers
• Collect relevant logs (system, application, network, security, cloud) with timestamps
• Document detailed timeline of events with supporting evidence
• Maintain chain of custody for all evidence with proper documentation
• Take screenshots and recordings of relevant activities or findings
• Preserve network traffic captures and memory dumps
• Document system state and configuration at time of incident
• Collect relevant email communications and user activity logs
• Secure physical evidence (if applicable) in tamper-evident containers

Initial Response Documentation

• Date and time of detection with timezone information
• Detection method and initial reporter
• Systems, services, and data affected with criticality ratings
• Incident type, classification, and severity with justification
• Initial containment actions taken and results
• Team members involved and roles assigned
• Current status and next steps
• Business impact assessment with financial estimates if available
• Preliminary external reporting requirements assessment
• Board notification status and recommendations

Containment Phase

Short-term Containment

• Isolate affected systems through network segmentation or physical disconnection
• Block malicious IP addresses/domains at firewalls and proxies
• Disable compromised accounts and force password resets
• Kill malicious processes and services
• Preserve evidence before making changes to affected systems
• Implement temporary access controls to prevent spread
• Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools in blocking mode
• Apply emergency firewall rules or access control lists
• Implement email and web filtering for identified threats
• Activate enhanced monitoring on critical systems

Long-term Containment

• Patch vulnerable systems according to risk-based prioritization
• Update firewall rules and security controls based on threat analysis
• Implement additional monitoring with behavioral baselines
• Create clean backups of affected systems after verification
• Deploy temporary workarounds for business continuity
• Implement additional authentication requirements for critical systems
• Enhance logging and monitoring for similar attack patterns
• Update threat intelligence feeds and correlation rules
• Revise access control policies based on least privilege
• Implement additional network segmentation

Containment Strategy Considerations

• Business impact of containment actions with financial metrics
• Evidence preservation requirements and legal hold implications
• Duration of containment measures with milestone-based exit criteria
• Resource requirements and allocation process
• Communication requirements for stakeholders including the board
• Effectiveness against the specific threat with success metrics
• Regulatory and legal implications of containment strategy
• Customer/client impact assessment
• Reputational risk assessment
• Recovery time objectives and service level agreements

Eradication Phase

Identification of Root Cause

• Analyze collected evidence using forensic tools and techniques
• Review system, network, and security logs with timeline correlation
• Identify initial attack vector and entry points
• Determine extent of compromise through threat hunting
• Document attacker techniques, tactics, and procedures
• Map the attack to known frameworks (MITRE ATT&CK)
• Identify security control failures and gaps
• Determine if the attack is ongoing or completed
• Assess if multiple threat actors are involved
• Identify potential insider threat components

Removal of Threat

• Remove malware using validated tools and procedures
• Delete unauthorized accounts and access methods
• Close network backdoors and command and control channels
• Patch vulnerabilities according to severity
• Address misconfigurations with secure baselines
• Verify removal with comprehensive scans and monitoring
• Implement enhanced detection for similar threats
• Remove unauthorized scheduled tasks and services
• Clean or rebuild compromised systems
• Validate integrity of backups before restoration

Vulnerability Remediation

• Apply security patches with change management controls
• Update system configurations to security baselines
• Implement additional security controls based on threat analysis
• Address process or policy gaps with documented changes
• Review and revise access controls with least privilege
• Enhance monitoring for similar vulnerabilities
• Conduct focused penetration testing on remediated areas
• Document lessons learned for security improvement
• Update security standards and baselines
• Implement preventative controls for similar vulnerabilities

Recovery Phase

System Restoration

• Restore from clean, verified backups following documented procedures
• Rebuild systems from scratch using secure baseline images
• Reinstall applications from trusted sources with integrity verification
• Apply all security patches and updates with validation testing
• Reconfigure security settings according to hardening standards
• Implement enhanced monitoring during restoration
• Verify system integrity before reconnection
• Test application functionality in isolated environment
• Implement additional security controls based on incident analysis
• Document all restoration activities with verification steps

Verification and Validation

• Test system functionality with user acceptance testing
• Verify security controls effectiveness through penetration testing
• Monitor for signs of compromise with enhanced detection rules
• Conduct vulnerability scans on restored systems
• Perform file integrity checks against known-good baselines
• Validate network traffic patterns against baselines
• Test authentication and authorization controls
• Verify data integrity and recovery completeness
• Conduct security review of restored environment
• Test business process functionality end-to-end

Return to Production

• Establish criteria for returning systems to production with approval workflow
• Implement phased approach for critical systems with defined milestones
• Increase monitoring during initial period with specific detection scenarios
• Document all changes made during recovery in configuration management system
• Update system baselines and documentation
• Implement staged user access restoration
• Perform post-deployment testing and validation
• Establish enhanced monitoring period duration
• Conduct post-restoration security assessment
• Update disaster recovery and business continuity plans

Post-Incident Activities

Incident Documentation

• Complete incident report with comprehensive timeline
• Document all actions taken during response with results
• Calculate costs and resource usage with detailed breakdown
• Document lessons learned with actionable recommendations
• Update risk register with new threats and vulnerabilities
• Document effectiveness of controls and processes
• Identify improvement opportunities with owners and timelines
• Update security metrics and dashboards
• Document board communications and decisions
• Create executive summary for management and board review

Post-Incident Review Meeting

• Review incident timeline with key stakeholders
• Discuss effectiveness of response with objective metrics
• Identify successes and failures using structured methodology
• Develop recommendations for improvement with prioritization
• Update incident response procedures based on findings
• Assess team performance and resource adequacy
• Review decision-making effectiveness
• Evaluate communication effectiveness
• Identify training and awareness gaps
• Document strategic security improvements needed

Report to Stakeholders

• Executive summary for board and senior management
• Technical details for security and IT teams
• Compliance reporting as required by regulations
• Customer/client notifications with appropriate detail
• Law enforcement reporting if appropriate
• Investor communications if required
• Insurance claim documentation
• Industry ISAC reporting for threat intelligence sharing
• Regulatory filings with required content and timing
• Vendor/partner notifications with appropriate detail

Continuous Improvement

• Update incident response plan with lessons learned
• Address identified gaps in security controls with project plans
• Enhance detection capabilities for similar threats
• Improve response procedures with workflow optimization
• Conduct additional training based on identified gaps
• Update runbooks and playbooks with new procedures
• Revise security architecture based on findings
• Enhance monitoring and alerting for similar threats
• Update risk assessments and treatment plans
• Implement security control enhancements

Board Notification and Governance

Board Oversight Responsibilities

• Define board-level cybersecurity oversight structure (full board or committee)
• Establish board fiduciary responsibilities for cyber risk governance
• Document the board’s role in incident response oversight
• Create a cyber-risk appetite statement approved by the board
• Define thresholds for board notification based on incident severity
• Establish board reporting format and frequency for security incidents
• Document board’s legal obligations for breach notification oversight
• Define board’s role in approving public disclosures of incidents
• Establish process for board review of major security incidents
• Document board’s role in approving incident response resource allocation

Notification Protocols

• Define criteria for immediate board notification with specific thresholds
• Establish escalation path to board (CISO → CIO → CEO → Board Chair)
• Create standardized board briefing templates for incidents
• Document required information elements for board notifications
• Establish secure communication channels for sensitive board communications
• Define board emergency meeting triggers for severe incidents
• Document the board’s role in notification decisions
• Establish procedures for ongoing board updates during incidents
• Create board notification timeline requirements by incident type
• Define documentation requirements for board communications

Board Decision-Making Framework

• Document decisions requiring board approval during incidents
• Establish framework for board evaluation of response strategies
• Define the board’s role in approving significant expenditures for incident response
• Create decision trees for board involvement in public disclosure decisions
• Document the board’s role in ransomware payment decisions
• Define board approval process for engaging external assistance
• Establish the board’s role in regulatory disclosure approvals
• Document the board’s responsibility in reviewing legal implications
• Create templates for board resolutions related to major incidents
• Define record-keeping requirements for board decisions

Legal Implications of Board Notification Failures

• Document potential director personal liability for oversight failures
• Establish fiduciary duty requirements for cyber incident oversight
• Define documentation requirements to demonstrate adequate board oversight
• Document regulatory requirements for board involvement in incidents
• Establish process for documenting board cyber governance activities
• Define record retention requirements for board security discussions
• Document implications of failure to involve board in material incidents
• Establish process for periodic board cyber governance evaluation
• Define training requirements for board members on cyber incident obligations
• Create board-level cyber governance documentation framework

Board Cybersecurity Committee

• Define charter for board cybersecurity committee
• Establish membership requirements and expertise profiles
• Document committee meeting frequency and special meeting triggers
• Define reporting relationship between CISO and committee
• Establish committee’s role in incident response oversight
• Document committee’s responsibilities for cyber risk governance
• Define committee’s role in approving security investments
• Establish process for committee review of incident response plans
• Define committee’s role in reviewing post-incident reports
• Document committee’s responsibilities for regulatory compliance oversight

Board Training and Awareness

• Establish annual cybersecurity training requirements for board members
• Define cyber incident tabletop exercise participation requirements
• Document cybersecurity expertise requirements for board composition
• Establish process for updating board on emerging threats
• Define cybersecurity reporting dashboard for board oversight
• Establish security metrics for board-level monitoring
• Document board member responsibilities for security governance
• Define protocol for providing security threat intelligence to board
• Establish process for board self-assessment of cyber governance capability
• Define resources available to board for cybersecurity expertise

Incident Response for Specific Threats

Malware Outbreak

1. Identify malware type and behavior through analysis
   • Use sandboxes and malware analysis tools
   • Determine propagation methods and indicators of compromise
   • Assess capability and purpose (ransomware, data theft, persistence)
   • Identify command and control infrastructure
2. Isolate infected systems using containment techniques
   • Implement network quarantine for affected segments
   • Disconnect systems from network if necessary
   • Block command and control channels at firewall and DNS
   • Implement application blocking for suspicious processes
3. Block command and control channels
   • Implement DNS sinkholing for malicious domains
   • Block known bad IP addresses and domains at firewalls
   • Filter network traffic for command and control signatures
   • Implement SSL inspection for encrypted command and control
4. Deploy emergency anti-malware updates
   • Push emergency signatures to endpoint protection
   • Deploy specialized removal tools
   • Update intrusion prevention signatures
   • Implement application control policies
5. Clean or rebuild infected systems
   • Evaluate effectiveness of cleaning versus rebuilding
   • Follow established procedures for system restoration
   • Verify systems are clean before reconnection
   • Implement enhanced monitoring after restoration
6. Implement preventive measures
   • Patch vulnerabilities exploited by malware
   • Update security configurations
   • Enhance user awareness around infection vector
   • Implement additional preventive controls

Ransomware Attack

1. Isolate affected systems immediately
   • Disconnect affected systems from network
   • Shut down potentially vulnerable systems
   • Implement emergency firewall rules
   • Isolate network segments
2. Disable automatic backups to prevent encryption spread
   • Temporarily disable backup jobs
   • Isolate backup systems
   • Verify integrity of existing backups
   • Secure offline backup copies
3. Identify ransomware variant
   • Capture ransom note and indicators
   • Use ransomware identification tools
   • Document encryption methods and file markers
   • Identify potential decryption options
4. Assess data recovery options from offline backups
   • Verify availability of clean backups
   • Determine last known good backup point
   • Develop restoration priority plan
   • Test recovery in isolated environment
5. Determine business impact of data loss
   • Identify affected business processes
   • Calculate recovery time objectives and actual capabilities
   • Assess financial impact of downtime
   • Determine regulatory and contractual implications
6. Contact law enforcement if appropriate
   • Notify FBI or relevant agencies
   • File official reports
   • Determine reporting requirements
   • Collaborate with law enforcement resources
7. Consider restoration plan vs. payment considerations (consult legal)
   • Evaluate technical feasibility of recovery
   • Assess legal implications of ransom payment
   • Determine insurance coverage for incidents
   • Involve board in significant payment decisions
   • Document decision-making process for payment considerations
8. Board notification and involvement
   • Provide immediate notification for ransomware incidents
   • Present recovery options with business impact analysis
   • Obtain board approval for significant decisions
   • Document board involvement in decision process

Data Breach

1. Identify compromised data and systems
   • Determine data types and classification
   • Identify affected databases and files
   • Quantify number of records affected
   • Map affected systems and access points
2. Contain the breach by closing access points
   • Revoke compromised credentials
   • Close vulnerable access points
   • Implement network controls to prevent data exfiltration
   • Monitor for ongoing data theft attempts
3. Determine scope and sensitivity of exposed data
   • Classify data according to regulatory requirements
   • Identify regulated data elements (PII, PHI, financial)
   • Determine jurisdictions affected by breach
   • Assess potential harm to individuals
4. Engage legal counsel for compliance requirements
   • Determine notification requirements by jurisdiction
   • Assess regulatory reporting obligations
   • Prepare for potential litigation
   • Establish attorney-client privilege for investigation
5. Prepare for notification requirements
   • Develop notification content with legal review
   • Establish notification timeline and process
   • Prepare call center and response resources
   • Develop remediation offerings
6. Implement credit monitoring if appropriate
   • Select credit monitoring service
   • Determine duration and coverage
   • Establish enrollment process
   • Prepare communication materials
7. Address vulnerabilities that allowed the breach
   • Remediate technical vulnerabilities
   • Enhance monitoring and detection
   • Implement additional preventive controls
   • Conduct penetration testing to verify remediation
8. Board notification and governance
   • Provide immediate notification for material breaches
   • Present regulatory obligations and timelines
   • Obtain approval for public disclosure approach
   • Document board involvement in notification decisions

DDoS Attack

1. Identify attack type and targeted resources
   • Determine attack vector (volumetric, protocol, application)
   • Identify targeted systems and services
   • Measure attack volume and characteristics
   • Determine if attack is masking other activities
2. Engage with ISP/hosting provider
   • Contact provider emergency response
   • Request traffic analysis and assistance
   • Implement provider-level filtering
   • Coordinate response efforts
3. Implement traffic filtering
   • Deploy traffic scrubbing
   • Implement rate limiting
   • Filter based on attack signatures
   • Block attacking IP ranges
4. Divert traffic through scrubbing services
   • Activate DDoS protection services
   • Implement DNS or BGP diversion
   • Establish traffic cleaning parameters
   • Monitor effectiveness of mitigation
5. Scale resources to absorb attack if possible
   • Increase bandwidth allocation
   • Scale up cloud resources
   • Implement load balancing
   • Activate CDN protection
6. Monitor for secondary attacks during DDoS
   • Enhance security monitoring
   • Watch for infiltration attempts
   • Monitor internal systems for compromise
   • Implement additional security controls
7. Board notification considerations
   • Notify board for attacks affecting critical services
   • Provide impact assessment and mitigation strategy
   • Update on business continuity implications
   • Document attack patterns and response effectiveness

Insider Threat

1. Limit access for suspected individual
   • Reduce privileges to minimum necessary
   • Implement enhanced monitoring
   • Consider administrative leave if appropriate
   • Document justification for access changes
2. Monitor activities without alerting the subject
   • Implement targeted logging
   • Review access patterns and data usage
   • Monitor network activities
   • Preserve evidence of suspicious activities
3. Preserve evidence of malicious actions
   • Capture forensic images of systems
   • Preserve logs and access records
   • Document timeline of suspicious activities
   • Maintain chain of custody
4. Engage HR and legal departments
   • Consult on employment implications
   • Determine investigative approach
   • Ensure compliance with privacy laws
   • Prepare for potential termination
5. Document all suspicious activities
   • Create detailed timeline
   • Document evidence collected
   • Maintain investigation records
   • Prepare investigation report
6. Prepare for potential legal action
   • Gather evidence meeting legal standards
   • Prepare documentation for possible prosecution
   • Consult with law enforcement if appropriate
   • Determine civil or criminal implications
7. Board notification considerations
   • Notify board for significant insider incidents
   • Present case details with legal and HR guidance
   • Discuss reputational risk implications
   • Document governance process for insider threats

Phishing Campaign

1. Identify phishing indicators
   • Analyze email headers and content
   • Identify sender patterns
   • Document phishing techniques used
   • Determine targeting strategy (spear phishing vs. broad)
2. Block malicious URLs/attachments
   • Update email security gateways
   • Block malicious domains at DNS and proxy
   • Implement attachment scanning
   • Deploy emergency email filtering rules
3. Remove messages from mailboxes
   • Search and purge similar messages
   • Implement emergency retention policies
   • Notify users of specific messages
   • Deploy automated removal tools
4. Assess if any credentials were compromised
   • Review authentication logs
   • Monitor for suspicious logins
   • Implement honeytokens and monitoring
   • Check for unusual account activity
5. Force password resets for affected users
   • Implement targeted or organization-wide resets
   • Deploy enhanced authentication requirements
   • Monitor for post-reset suspicious activity
   • Verify effectiveness of credential resets
6. Provide targeted user education
   • Deploy just-in-time training
   • Send awareness communications
   • Conduct phishing simulations
   • Provide reporting mechanisms for suspicious emails
7. Board notification considerations
   • Update board on significant campaigns
   • Report on effectiveness of security awareness
   • Provide metrics on phishing susceptibility
   • Document security control improvements

Incident Response Team Roles and Responsibilities

Incident Response Manager

• Oversees the incident response process from detection to closure
• Makes critical decisions regarding containment and remediation
• Coordinates team activities and resource allocation
• Reports to executive management and board when required
• Ensures appropriate resources are available for response
• Leads communication with stakeholders
• Ensures documentation completeness
• Manages escalation process
• Conducts post-incident reviews
• Ensures lessons learned are implemented

Technical Lead

• Directs technical investigation and analysis
• Analyzes forensic evidence and determines root cause
• Recommends containment strategies based on technical analysis
• Oversees eradication and recovery technical processes
• Provides technical guidance to the team
• Evaluates effectiveness of technical controls
• Develops technical remediation strategies
• Validates technical aspects of recovery
• Contributes to technical documentation
• Assesses technical impact of the incident

Security Analyst

• Monitors alerts and identifies potential incidents
• Performs initial triage and correlation
• Collects and analyzes evidence from multiple sources
• Implements containment measures according to playbooks
• Documents technical findings and investigation results
• Conducts malware analysis and threat hunting
• Implements security tool configurations
• Performs log analysis and correlation
• Conducts forensic investigations
• Develops detection content for similar threats

Network Security Specialist

• Analyzes network traffic patterns and anomalies
• Implements network containment measures
• Identifies compromised network devices and segments
• Restores network security controls and configurations
• Monitors network for signs of persistent threats
• Implements network segmentation controls
• Configures network security devices
• Analyzes network-based indicators of compromise
• Performs network forensics
• Implements network monitoring enhancements

System Administrator

• Assists with system isolation and containment
• Implements technical containment measures on systems
• Helps with system recovery and restoration
• Provides access to required systems and logs
• Implements security patches and configuration changes
• Assists with backup and restoration processes
• Supports forensic image acquisition
• Implements system hardening measures
• Validates system integrity post-recovery
• Implements enhanced monitoring

Communications Coordinator

• Manages internal communications across departments
• Prepares external communications with legal review
• Coordinates with public relations team
• Ensures consistent messaging to all stakeholders
• Maintains stakeholder updates through established channels
• Develops communication templates
• Coordinates timing of communications
• Ensures regulatory communication requirements are met
• Manages call center communications
• Prepares board and executive communications

Legal Counsel

• Advises on legal obligations and requirements
• Manages regulatory reporting and compliance
• Handles law enforcement interactions and cooperation
• Reviews external communications for legal implications
• Addresses potential liability issues and mitigation
• Establishes attorney-client privilege for investigation
• Advises on evidence handling requirements
• Manages breach notification legal requirements
• Advises on contractual obligations
• Coordinates with external legal resources

Human Resources Representative

• Handles insider threat incidents and investigations
• Addresses employee-related matters during incidents
• Assists with disciplinary actions when required
• Supports employee communications and awareness
• Coordinates employee training and awareness
• Manages employment aspects of investigations
• Ensures compliance with employment laws
• Assists with access revocation processes
• Supports administrative leave procedures
• Assists with employee interviews

Board Liaison

• Serves as primary point of contact with board of directors
• Prepares board notification materials and briefings
• Coordinates board meetings related to security incidents
• Ensures board receives timely and accurate information
• Documents board involvement and decisions
• Facilitates board approvals when required
• Manages board committee communications
• Provides regular status updates to board
• Ensures board governance requirements are met
• Facilitates board input on strategic decisions

Communication Plan

Internal Communication

• Initial incident notification process with templates
• Regular status updates (frequency based on severity)
• Escalation procedures with triggering criteria
• Secure communication channels for sensitive information
• Need-to-know information distribution protocols
• Department-specific communication requirements
• Executive briefing format and frequency
• Employee notification procedures and templates
• Technical team communication protocols
• Post-incident communication requirements

External Communication

• Customer/client notification templates and procedures
• Media response procedures with spokesperson designation
• Website/social media updates and monitoring
• Call center scripts for inquiries with FAQ development
• Regulatory disclosure requirements by jurisdiction
• Partner/vendor notification protocols
• Investor relations communication procedures
• Law enforcement communication guidelines
• Industry sharing protocols (ISACs/ISAOs)
• Public relations firm engagement criteria

Stakeholder Management

• Executive management briefings with format and timing
• Board of Directors updates with required content
• Investor communications with disclosure requirements
• Partner/vendor notifications with appropriate detail
• Employee communications with security awareness
• Customer communication strategy and timing
• Regulatory agency communication requirements
• Media relations management
• Law enforcement engagement protocols
• Industry peer notifications

Communication Templates

• Initial incident alert with severity classification
• Status update with progress indicators
• Escalation notification with triggering criteria
• External breach notification with required elements
• All-clear message with verification requirements
• Lessons learned summary with improvement plans
• Board notification with governance elements
• Regulatory disclosure with compliance requirements
• Customer/client notification with support options
• Media statement with approved messaging

Board Communication Protocols

• Notification thresholds by incident type and severity
• Required information elements for board communications
• Communication channels for board notifications
• Timeline requirements for initial and ongoing communications
• Documentation standards for board communications
• Decision request format for board approvals
• Post-incident reporting requirements
• Regular security briefing content and format
• Emergency meeting triggers and procedures
• Secure communication methods for sensitive information

Legal and Regulatory Considerations

Data Breach Notification Laws

• State/regional requirements with jurisdiction mapping
• Sector-specific regulations (HIPAA, GLBA, etc.)
• International considerations (GDPR, PIPEDA, etc.)
• Notification timelines with triggering events
• Required content of notifications by jurisdiction
• Harm threshold analysis requirements
• Substitute notification provisions
• Regulatory agency notification requirements
• Documentation requirements for compliance
• Multi-jurisdiction notification coordination

Evidence Handling

• Chain of custody documentation requirements
• Evidence storage requirements and facilities
• Electronic evidence preservation techniques
• Admissibility considerations for different evidence types
• Expert witness preparation and requirements
• Forensic analysis documentation standards
• Time synchronization and timestamp validation
• Digital signature and hash verification
• Evidence retention policies and procedures
• Legal hold implementation process

Regulatory Reporting

• Financial services reporting requirements (SEC, FINRA)
• Healthcare breach reporting requirements (HHS/OCR)
• Critical infrastructure notification requirements (DHS/CISA)
• Law enforcement reporting procedures by jurisdiction
• International reporting requirements with timelines
• Required content for different regulatory reports
• Documentation standards for regulatory compliance
• Coordination between multiple regulatory filings
• Follow-up reporting requirements
• Regulatory examination preparation

Contractual Obligations

• Client notification requirements in service agreements
• Service Level Agreement considerations and penalties
• Vendor/partner notifications and responsibilities
• Insurance notification requirements and timelines
• Third-party risk management implications
• Breach notification provisions in contracts
• Indemnification considerations
• Force majeure provisions
• Vendor security requirements enforcement
• Contract review procedures following incidents

Legal Implications of Board Notification Failures

• Fiduciary duty requirements for cyber incident governance
• Personal liability risks for directors
• Documentation requirements for demonstrating adequate oversight
• SEC disclosure requirements and timing
• Shareholder derivative action defenses
• Board oversight documentation standards
• Regulatory expectations for board involvement
• Legal defenses for good faith board actions
• Governance documentation requirements
• Insurance coverage implications for governance failures

Templates and Checklists

Incident Response Checklist

• Verify incident and confirm severity
• Activate incident response team
• Establish incident command structure
• Document initial findings
• Implement containment measures
• Collect and preserve evidence
• Identify affected systems and data
• Notify required stakeholders
• Assess board notification requirements
• Implement board notification if thresholds met
• Develop and execute remediation plan
• Verify threat eradication
• Restore systems and services
• Monitor for recurring issues
• Complete post-incident documentation
• Conduct lessons learned review
• Update incident response plan as needed
• Document board communications and decisions
• Prepare final incident report
• Implement security improvements

Evidence Collection Form

• Date and time of collection with timezone
• System/device information with unique identifiers
• Collector’s name and contact information
• Description of evidence with classification
• Collection method and tools used
• Hash values for digital evidence (MD5, SHA-256, SHA-1)
• Storage location with access controls documentation
• Chain of custody tracking with all handlers documented
• Evidence identifier or tag number
• Condition of evidence at collection
• Description of evidence location when collected
• Photographs of physical evidence
• Related case identifiers
• Retention period and destruction procedures
• Authorization for collection

Incident Response Report Template

• Executive summary for management and board
• Incident details (date, time, duration, type, severity)
• Detection method and timeline
• Systems and data affected with business impact
• Incident severity and impact assessment
• Response actions taken with results
• Timeline of events from detection to resolution
• Root cause analysis with contributing factors
• Corrective actions implemented and planned
• Preventive measures to avoid recurrence
• Lessons learned with action items
• Recommendations for security improvements
• Regulatory and legal actions taken
• Board notification and involvement documentation
• Stakeholder communications summary
• Costs and resource utilization
• Evidence collected and preservation status
• Recovery metrics and effectiveness
• Security control effectiveness assessment
• Appendices with technical details and logs

Board Briefing Template

• Incident executive summary (1-page maximum)
• Business impact assessment with metrics
• Regulatory and legal implications
• Public disclosure considerations and recommendations
• Resource requirements and financial impact
• Strategic security implications
• Remediation strategy overview
• Timeline for resolution with milestones
• Decision points requiring board input or approval
• Risk assessment of various response options
• Reputational impact analysis
• Customer/client impact assessment
• Insurance coverage implications
• Communications strategy overview
• Long-term security improvement recommendations
• Required board actions with deadlines

Tools and Resources

Security Tools

• SIEM solutions (Splunk, IBM QRadar, LogRhythm, Microsoft Sentinel)
• EDR tools (CrowdStrike, SentinelOne, Carbon Black, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint)
• Network monitoring (Wireshark, tcpdump, Zeek, NetworkMiner, Darktrace)
• Forensic tools (FTK, EnCase, Autopsy, Volatility, SANS SIFT Workstation)
• Malware analysis (REMnux, Cuckoo Sandbox, ANY.RUN, Joe Sandbox)
• Vulnerability scanners (Nessus, OpenVAS, Qualys, Tenable.io, Rapid7 InsightVM)
• Threat intelligence platforms (Recorded Future, ThreatConnect, Mandiant Advantage)
• Cloud security tools (Cloud Security Posture Management, Cloud Workload Protection)
• Email security tools (Proofpoint, Mimecast, Microsoft Defender for Office 365)
• Security orchestration and automation (Palo Alto Cortex XSOAR, Swimlane, ServiceNow SecOps)

Documentation Tools

• Incident tracking system (JIRA, ServiceNow, TheHive)
• Secure knowledge base (Confluence, SharePoint, internal wiki)
• Digital evidence management system (AccessData, OpenText)
• Collaborative documentation platform (Microsoft Teams, Slack, Mattermost)
• Secure communications platform (Signal, Wickr, Microsoft Teams)
• Automated reporting tools (Power BI, Tableau, QlikView)
• Case management systems (Archer, D3 Security, IBM Resilient)
• Chain of custody tools (Evidence Management Systems)
• Timeline visualization tools (TimelineJS, CaseMap)
• Board portal solutions (Diligent, BoardVantage, OnBoard)

External Resources

• Law enforcement contacts (FBI, Secret Service, Local Police Cyber Units)
• Industry-specific ISACs (Information Sharing and Analysis Centers)
• US-CERT and CISA resources and services
• Cybersecurity consultants and incident response providers
• Threat intelligence feeds and services
• Legal and public relations firms with cyber expertise
• Digital forensics and incident response specialists
• Ransomware negotiation specialists
• Insurance providers and brokers
• Cloud service provider security teams
• Regulatory compliance consultants
• Crisis communication specialists
• Board cybersecurity governance consultants
• Managed security service providers
• Business continuity specialists

Incident Response Plans and Frameworks

• NIST SP 800-61: Computer Security Incident Handling Guide
• SANS Incident Handler’s Handbook
• ISO/IEC 27035: Information Security Incident Management
• CERT/CC Incident Response Steps
• CIS Controls and Implementation Groups
• Cloud Security Alliance Incident Response Framework
• FIRST (Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams) Standards
• MITRE ATT&CK Framework for threat modeling
• Industry-specific incident response frameworks
• Company-specific playbooks and runbooks

Glossary

APT (Advanced Persistent Threat): A targeted attack in which an unauthorized user gains access to a system or network and remains undetected for an extended period.

Business Impact Analysis (BIA): Assessment of the criticality of business functions and processes and the impact that a disruption might have on them.

Command and Control (C2): Infrastructure used by attackers to control compromised systems and exfiltrate data.

CISA: Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, a federal agency responsible for improving cybersecurity across all levels of government and critical infrastructure.

CSIRT: Computer Security Incident Response Team, a group responsible for receiving, reviewing, and responding to computer security incident reports.

Cyber Kill Chain: A model to describe the stages of a cyberattack: reconnaissance, weaponization, delivery, exploitation, installation, command and control, and actions on objectives.

DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service): An attack where multiple compromised systems are used to target a single system, causing a denial of service.

Data Breach: An incident where sensitive, protected, or confidential data is copied, transmitted, viewed, stolen, or used by an unauthorized individual.

EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response): Security technology that continuously monitors and responds to threats on endpoints.

Exfiltration: The unauthorized transfer of data from a system.

Fiduciary Duty: The legal obligation of directors and officers to act in the best interests of their corporation, which includes proper oversight of cyber risks.

Forensic Image: A bit-by-bit copy of storage media, including all files, folders, and unallocated space.

IOC (Indicator of Compromise): Forensic evidence of potential intrusion on a system or network.

ISAC (Information Sharing and Analysis Center): Organization that facilitates the sharing of cybersecurity information among members.

Lateral Movement: The techniques that cyber attackers use to progressively move through a network as they search for key assets and data.

MITRE ATT&CK: A globally-accessible knowledge base of adversary tactics and techniques based on real-world observations.

OODA Loop: Observe, Orient, Decide, Act - a decision cycle used for incident response.

Ransomware: Malicious software designed to block access to a computer system or data until a sum of money is paid.

Recovery Point Objective (RPO): The maximum targeted period in which data might be lost due to a major incident.

Recovery Time Objective (RTO): The targeted duration of time within which a business process must be restored after a disaster.

SIEM (Security Information and Event Management): Software that provides real-time analysis of security alerts generated by applications and network hardware.

Tabletop Exercise: Discussion-based session where team members meet to discuss their roles and responses during an emergency.

Threat Actor: An individual or group that has the potential to impact the security of an organization.

Threat Hunting: The proactive search for threats that have evaded existing security solutions.

TTPs (Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures): The patterns of activities or methods associated with a specific threat actor or group of threat actors.

Vulnerability: A weakness which can be exploited by a threat actor to perform unauthorized actions within a computer system.

XDR (Extended Detection and Response): Security technology that unifies visibility across multiple security products.

Zero-day: A software security flaw that is unknown to the software vendor and has not been patched or made public.