What is an incident response plan?

An incident response plan (IRP) is a well-structured approach that outlines how an organization prepares for, detects, responds to, and recovers from breaches. CompTIA states, “an effective incident response (IR) plan is a combination of people, processes and technologies that is documented, tested and trained in the event of a security incident." 

SANS has these documented processes in their Incident Handler’s Handbook, a resource designed to help organizations navigate the six phases of incident handling. 

Related: Developing a HIPAA compliant incident response plan for data breaches

Why it matters

According to the handbook, an incident is "a matter of when, not if, a compromise or violation of an organization's security will happen." Therefore, the purpose is to help organizations manage and mitigate the impact of breaches by transforming an unexpected security crisis from a potential catastrophe into a manageable, controlled process. 

The six phases of the incident plan are designed to provide a systematic, strategic approach that allows organizations to:

• Minimize damage
• Preserve evidence
• Learn and improve
• Maintain business continuity
• Develop organizational resilience

Related: What is a HIPAA data breach response plan?

Phases of an IRP

• Preparation: Ensures the Computer Incident Response Team (CIRT) is ready for security incidents by developing policies, response strategies, and communication protocols. Activities include defining priorities, creating a communication plan, preparing documentation, assembling a diverse team, ensuring access controls, gathering tools, and conducting regular training and drills.
• Identification: The team detects and verifies potential security incidents by analyzing log files, error messages, and other sources. Coordination and communication with appropriate personnel is required. Comprehensive documentation is needed for legal purposes, with at least two handlers recommended for identification and evidence gathering.
• Containment: The goal is to limit damage and prevent further harm. This involves short-term containment (isolating infected segments), system backup (creating forensic images), and long-term containment (removing attacker accounts, installing patches, and preparing for full restoration while maintaining business operations).
• Eradication: The team removes the threat and restores systems to a clean state, often by reimaging hard drives. Documentation, cost calculation, and improving defenses are also required. This phase includes hardening systems by installing patches to prevent the recurrence of the incident.
• Recovery: Focuses on reintroducing affected systems into the production environment. Decisions include timing, testing methods, monitoring duration, and tools to verify system integrity. The goal is to ensure systems are not compromised and can function normally without reintroducing vulnerabilities.
• Lessons learned: This phase occurs within two weeks of resolution. It involves completing documentation, generating an incident report, and conducting a review meeting to discuss successes, identify improvements, and create training materials for future incidents.

Related: The 6 steps of incident response

Benefits of an IRP

Minimized damage: Swift detection and response can significantly reduce the damage caused by breaches.

Reduced downtime: Efficient incident handling ensures quicker recovery and minimizes business disruptions.

Enhanced security posture: Continuous improvement of the IRP helps strengthen an organization’s overall security defenses.

Regulatory compliance: An IRP helps meet legal and regulatory requirements related to HIPAA compliance and the Notification Rule.

Improved confidence: Employees and stakeholders gain confidence in the organization’s ability to handle security incidents effectively.

FAQs

How can I develop an effective Incident Response Plan?

To develop an effective IRP, conduct a risk assessment, define roles and responsibilities, create incident response policies, implement security tools, provide training, and conduct regular testing and drills.

Related: What is a digital forensics incident response plan?

What are the common tools used in incident response?

Common tools include SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) systems, EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) solutions, forensic analysis tools, and automated incident response platforms.

What metrics can be used to measure the effectiveness of an IRP?

Metrics include the time taken to detect and respond to incidents, the number of incidents handled, the cost of incident response, and the impact of incidents on business operations.