Components Security Implementation Incident Response - DevClusterAI/DOD-definition GitHub Wiki

Incident Response

Security incident response is the structured approach to addressing and managing the aftermath of a security breach or attack. This document outlines the incident response requirements and processes that must be followed as part of the Definition of Done.

Purpose

The purpose of incident response is to:

  • Quickly detect and respond to security incidents
  • Minimize damage and reduce recovery time and costs
  • Systematically address security breaches
  • Prevent similar incidents through lessons learned
  • Comply with regulatory reporting requirements
  • Maintain stakeholder trust during security events

Incident Response Lifecycle

1. Preparation

  • Incident response plans must be documented and accessible
  • Roles and responsibilities must be clearly defined
  • Communication channels must be established
  • Necessary tools and resources must be available
  • Staff must be trained on incident response procedures
  • Contact information for key personnel must be maintained
  • Legal and regulatory requirements must be understood

2. Detection and Analysis

Incident Detection

  • Multiple detection sources must be utilized:

    • Security monitoring systems
    • Intrusion detection/prevention systems
    • Log analysis tools
    • Vulnerability scans
    • User/customer reports
    • Threat intelligence feeds

  • Detection capabilities must cover:

    • Network anomalies
    • System-level anomalies
    • Application-level anomalies
    • User behavior anomalies
    • Data exfiltration attempts

Incident Analysis

  • Initial triage must categorize incidents by:

    • Type (e.g., malware, unauthorized access, data breach)
    • Severity (critical, high, medium, low)
    • Scope (systems affected, potential impact)
    • Source (internal, external, unknown)

  • Forensic analysis must be performed:

    • Preserve evidence
    • Establish timeline of events
    • Identify attack vectors
    • Determine extent of compromise
    • Identify affected assets and data

3. Containment, Eradication, and Recovery

Containment

  • Short-term containment actions:

    • Isolate affected systems
    • Block malicious IP addresses
    • Disable compromised accounts
    • Implement emergency firewall rules

  • Long-term containment actions:

    • Apply emergency patches
    • Enhance monitoring
    • Implement additional security controls
    • Prepare for system restoration

Eradication

  • Remove malware and backdoors
  • Address vulnerabilities that were exploited
  • Reset compromised credentials
  • Validate system integrity
  • Implement additional security measures

Recovery

  • Restore systems from clean backups
  • Verify system functionality
  • Monitor for signs of persistent compromise
  • Gradually return systems to production
  • Implement additional security controls

4. Post-Incident Activities

Lessons Learned

  • Conduct post-incident review meetings
  • Document the incident timeline and response actions
  • Identify what worked well and what could be improved
  • Update incident response procedures based on findings
  • Implement measures to prevent similar incidents

Reporting

  • Prepare incident reports for:

    • Executive leadership
    • Technical teams
    • Customers (if applicable)
    • Regulatory bodies (if required)
    • Law enforcement (if appropriate)

  • Reports must include:

    • Incident summary
    • Timeline of events
    • Actions taken
    • Impact assessment
    • Recommendations for prevention

Incident Severity Classification

Incidents must be classified by severity to determine the appropriate response:

Critical Severity

  • Widespread system compromise
  • Significant data breach of sensitive information
  • Direct financial impact or fraud
  • Public-facing service disruption
  • Regulatory reporting required
  • Response: Immediate, 24/7 until resolved

High Severity

  • Limited system compromise
  • Potential data breach
  • Internal service disruption
  • Advanced persistent threat activity
  • Response: Same day, extended hours until contained

Medium Severity

  • Attempted unauthorized access
  • Isolated malware infection
  • Limited data exposure
  • Non-critical service disruption
  • Response: Within 24 hours during business hours

Low Severity

  • Policy violations
  • Suspicious activities
  • Minor security issues
  • No data exposure or system compromise
  • Response: Within 72 hours during business hours

Incident Response Team

Core Team Members

  • Incident Response Coordinator
  • Security Analysts
  • System Administrators
  • Network Engineers
  • Application Developers
  • Legal Representative
  • Communications Specialist

Extended Team Members (as needed)

  • Executive Leadership
  • Human Resources
  • Customer Support
  • External Security Experts
  • Law Enforcement Liaison
  • Regulatory Compliance Officer

Communication Plan

Internal Communication

  • Secure communication channels must be established
  • Regular status updates must be provided
  • Escalation paths must be clearly defined
  • Documentation must be maintained throughout the incident
  • Clear authorization for critical decisions must be established

External Communication

  • Single point of contact for external communications
  • Pre-approved communication templates
  • Regulatory notification procedures
  • Customer notification process
  • Media response guidelines
  • Coordination with legal before any disclosures

Incident Response Tools and Resources

  • Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system
  • Forensic analysis tools
  • Malware analysis environment
  • Network packet capture tools
  • Log aggregation and analysis platform
  • System imaging tools
  • Incident tracking system
  • Secure communication platform
  • Threat intelligence resources

Testing and Exercises

  • Tabletop exercises must be conducted regularly
  • Technical drills must test specific response capabilities
  • Full-scale simulations must be performed annually
  • Scenarios must reflect realistic threats
  • Exercise results must be documented and improvements implemented
  • External experts should periodically review the program

Integration with Development and Operations

  • Security incidents must inform future development requirements
  • Post-incident security improvements must be prioritized
  • Development teams must participate in relevant incident response activities
  • Operations teams must implement and maintain incident detection capabilities
  • DevOps pipelines must be updated to prevent recurrence

Definition of Done Criteria

For incident response to meet the Definition of Done, the following criteria must be satisfied:

  • Incident response plan is documented and accessible
  • Roles and responsibilities are clearly defined
  • Detection capabilities are implemented and tested
  • Response procedures are documented for common incident types
  • Communication channels are established and tested
  • Regular testing exercises are scheduled
  • Post-incident review process is defined
  • Regulatory reporting requirements are understood

References

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