Due to the large number of highly publicized data breaches that have occurred over the last decade (some coming with class action lawsuits), it is hard to imagine anyone who uses an electronic device for work who is not aware of the vast number of security breach attempts that occur every day. A Clark School study at the University of Maryland was one of the first to be able to quantify the near constant rate of hacker attacks on computers with internet access: every 39 seconds on average, affecting one in three Americans every year.
This is why it is so important to have an Incident Response Plan (IRP) in place. In a perfect world, security processes, protocols, and applications would prevent every threat from becoming a breach. This, of course, is not the case and a well-formed IRP can help mitigate the damage done when a security incident does occur. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides widely recognized frameworks and guidelines for incident response, helping organizations structure their IRPs effectively.
IRPs also help organizations know what they are going to do in response to a problem as well as who is going to do it. Having an incident response team in place can ensure risk management controls and procedures are set up for detecting, triaging, responding to, and recovering from an incident. Key elements of an effective IRP include clear communication protocols, defined roles and responsibilities, and step-by-step procedures for each phase of incident response.
No matter how large or small your company may be, if you do not have IRPs in place (which can be specific to your industry), then your data may not be as protected as you think. Learn how to craft an IRP with several industry-specific templated steps below so you’re set up for success.
Understanding incident response for small businesses
What is incident response?
Incident response is the structured process organizations use to address and manage security incidents, such as security breaches, cyberattacks, or data loss events. This process involves a series of coordinated steps designed to identify threats, contain and eradicate malicious activity, and recover affected systems as quickly as possible. Effective incident response not only helps organizations resolve current incidents but also strengthens their ability to prevent future incidents by analyzing root causes and implementing lessons learned. By following a well-defined incident response plan, organizations can minimize the impact of security breaches, restore normal operations, and reduce the risk of similar incidents occurring in the future.
Why incident response matters
A strong incident response strategy is essential for organizations aiming to minimize the impact of security incidents and protect sensitive data. When a security incident occurs, a timely and coordinated response can significantly reduce the risk of further damage, data loss, and business disruption. Incident response also plays a critical role in helping organizations meet regulatory compliance requirements and maintain the trust of customers, partners, and stakeholders. By investing in incident response planning, organizations can ensure they are prepared to handle incidents effectively, safeguard their sensitive data, and maintain business continuity even in the face of evolving security threats.
How to start an incident response plan
As with many business protocols, creating an IRP using a step-by-step templated procedure will result in a broad, comprehensive, and implementable process to follow when it is time to act.
For reference, organizations can look at examples of incident response plan templates and best practices, such as those provided by NIST, SANS, or ISO, to guide the development of their own plans.
Here are the tasks to review and record when starting to build an incident response plan checklist template.
Identify your potential threats
There are many types of attacks that occur. According to Statista, in 2022, the number of data compromises in the United States stood at 1,802 cases. Meanwhile, over 422 million individuals were affected in the same year by data compromises, including data breaches, leakage, and exposure.
That’s why it’s important to identify which types of attacks your company may be most affected by. The types of attacks you may experience include:
- Malware
- Phishing
- Password
- Man-in-the-middle
- SQL injection attack
- Denial-of-service attack
- Insider threat
- Cryptojacking
Here are five high-level steps to cover when performing a risk assessment in order to detect potential threats.
- Identify hazards
- Assess the risks
- Control the risks
- Record your findings
- Review the controls
Establish an incident response team (IRT)
Several roles are needed in order to create an incident response team that can efficiently and effectively act when an issue arises. But there is no standard IRT size — it all depends on the size and needs of your company. Here are some key players that could be in your incident response team.
- Team leader
- Communications liaison
- Lead investigator
- Data analysts
- Researchers
- Legal representatives
CSIRT members (Computer Security Incident Response Team members) are responsible for managing cybersecurity incidents and should have relevant expertise. Computer security incident response teams (CSIRTs) are organized to handle cybersecurity events in a structured manner. The chief information security officer is the senior executive overseeing the organization's cybersecurity strategy and incident response planning. Senior executives should approve the incident response policy and designate leadership for incident handling.
Selecting team members that are familiar with an organization’s systems, structure, industry, and end user community is key. Having backups for each position on the team is also important.
As you establish your team and document their roles in your IRP, make sure to also include all contact information in case a breach occurs outside of work hours. This includes phone numbers, cell phone numbers, work emails, and personal emails.
Initial and regular training, as well as conducting drills to test response processes, can facilitate quick action during an actual crisis and should be part of an overall IRT plan.
Work together to develop an incident response plan
Developing incident response plan templates, meaning frameworks for how a type of incident will be addressed across departments in your company, should include well documented components. These can include:
- A mission statement
- Formal documentation of roles and responsibilities for those on the incident response team
- Cyberthreat preparation documentation
- An incident response threshold determination
- Management and containment processes
- Fast, effective recovery plans
- Post-incident review
Incident response steps, as outlined in established models like NIST and SANS, provide a structured approach to handling incidents by defining specific phases to follow during a cybersecurity event.
Organizations that hold data that fall under the following categories need to prioritize having a robust plan in place.
- Banking
- NIST
- HIPAA
Having an IRP template that can be used in a variety of situations is a good start. However, modifying plans in order to address specific types of data breaches (i.e., an organization could have both healthcare (HIPAA) and financial information) will go a long way to mitigate damage caused by any type of incident.
Find ways to implement the plan
Communication throughout the process during a crisis is of the utmost importance. This includes sharing information on technical items for the IT team, giving downstream instructions to end users, and providing administrative information to management and legal personnel such as the number of people affected.
Some high-level tips on how to implement an incident response strategy effectively include:
- Preparation: this includes regular training and test scenarios for incident response team members
- Detection and analysis: track how you identify and look at issues and keep that information up to date
- Containment, eradication, and recovery: be prepared to follow your plan completely while also being flexible during the crisis
- Post-incident activity: thoroughly record information for future use
Remember that part of your process should be to document the response procedure for future use.
Schedule testing and remember to update the plan
Testing the incident response strategy on a regular basis can be one of the key components of successfully mitigating an issue that occurs. Develop a regular testing schedule based on your needs and stick to it.
It’s important to try several forms of testing as well, such as tabletop exercises and full-scale simulations. Then, you can use these testing lessons to update and improve the incident response strategy. This can include the amount and timeliness of communications, the order of action items, and other essential tasks to remember during a crisis.
How to create an incident response plan with templated steps
An incident response plan checklist is a comprehensive list of items that should be included in an organization’s IRP. It serves as a guide for developing and customizing an IRP that is tailored to the needs and requirements of the organization. Understanding and managing the organization's attack surface—including all digital assets, network infrastructure, and potential vulnerabilities—is essential during the IRP development process to ensure effective protection and response.
Below is a templated list of items that should be included in an IRP checklist. They can be modified by industry or a company’s needs, but each basic step is the same in most plans.
Define the incident response team
The IRT is a group of individuals who are responsible for detecting, analyzing, containing, and mitigating security incidents. During an incident, the team takes specific actions such as isolating affected systems, blocking malicious traffic, and implementing containment strategies to stop the spread of threats.
It is crucial to define the individual roles and responsibilities of the IRT members, determine backup personnel for each position, and ensure their contact information is correct and available to all.
Establish the incident response policy
The incident response policy should clearly and simply define the scope and goals of the IRT.
It outlines the organization’s approach to incident responses, including its procedures for detecting and responding to incidents. The policy should also specify authority levels for making critical decisions during incident response, ensuring that the right individuals are empowered to act quickly and effectively.
Define the incident response procedures
The incident response procedures outline how to respond to various types of incidents in detail.
This includes:
- identifying the incident including how and when it happened
- reporting on when it was discovered
- processes to try and contain the incident
- determining the scope of the damage and risk
- restoring the affected system(s) to normal operation
- how to report the incident to the appropriate parties
- documenting what happened throughout the entire incident
Define the incident severity levels
The severity levels of incidents define the level of urgency needed by the IRT. This allows the IRT to prioritize its response efforts and allocate resources more effectively.
Establish communication protocols
Communication protocols specify how incidents are reported, escalated, and communicated to internal and external stakeholders. Establishing a communication plan is essential to ensure that information is shared in a structured and coordinated way with both internal and external stakeholders during incident response.
Defining who should be notified, how they should be notified, and what information should be communicated are all part of this process.
Develop an IRP testing and maintenance schedule
Schedules for testing and maintenance ensure that the IRP is reviewed, updated, and evaluated on a regular basis to ensure that it is effective and relevant.
Define the incident documentation procedures
Documentation procedures ensure that all incidents, including their scope, severity, and resolution, are thoroughly recorded.
This documentation is essential for future incident analysis as well as for meeting legal and regulatory requirements.
Establish external agency and resource contacts
The IRT should have a list of outside agencies and resources that they may need to contact for assistance or to report incidents to based on contractual and legal guidelines.
Develop an evidence search, preservation, and collection plan
This plan should include procedures to preserve evidence during incident response, ensuring that all relevant data is properly handled. Collecting forensic evidence is crucial for analyzing security breaches and can support investigations as well as potential legal or forensic proceedings.
Develop a post-incident analysis and reporting process
This process should outline the methodologies for analyzing incidents and producing reports that summarize the lessons learned and the IRP improvements that are required. Post-incident analysis is crucial for identifying vulnerabilities and strengthening defenses against future attacks. Reviewing the incident response lifecycle allows organizations to evaluate each stage and improve their processes for more effective incident management. After analysis and reporting, the next steps should include updating response plans, conducting training, and implementing recommended changes to enhance overall security.
Incident response plan template for small businesses
It is easy to think that very large companies like Lockheed Martin or Pfizer are the only targets of those who aim to gain access to an organization’s data. However, every year, almost half of cyber-attacks are against small businesses. But due to limited resources, budget constraints, and a lack of cybersecurity expertise, small businesses may face unique challenges when developing an IRP.
Having an incident response plan in place, on the other hand, can assist small businesses in mitigating the impact of cyber incidents, minimize downtime, and lower associated costs. So it may be easier for small business teams to use templated steps and forms to create an effective incident response plan that works for them.
To get started, a small business IRP should include the following templated components.
- the incident response plan's scope and objective
- the incident response team as well as their distinct roles and responsibilities
- communication protocols and processes for incident reporting and escalation
- event classification and severity levels
- a risk management plan that occurs after identifying possible threats and weaknesses
- incident response processes for various sorts of occurrences
- procedures for incident identification and monitoring
- procedures for incident containment and elimination
- post-incident processes including recuperation and learning opportunities to ensure IRPs are effective and current with the latest cybersecurity threats and best practices
Pre-built incident response plan templates tailored to the needs and requirements of small businesses are available below. You can choose a template based on your company’s specific needs.
- SANS Institute Incident Response Plan for Small Business
This template outlines how to create an incident response plan for a small business with limited resources.
- Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Incident Response Plan Template
This template provides a customizable incident response plan for small businesses to detect, respond, and recover from cybersecurity incidents.
- Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Small Biz Cyber Planner 2.0
This tool assists small businesses in developing a personalized cybersecurity strategy that includes incident response planning, risk assessment, and mitigation strategies.
Large organizations can use the above resources from the SANS Institute, CISA, and the FCC as a reference, too, even if they are preparing for incidents across a broader enterprise landscape. It is also important for medium and bigger companies to check off all the templated steps above when preparing a plan.
Addressing key threats and reducing risk
Effective incident response planning goes beyond simply reacting to incidents—it requires organizations to proactively identify and address the key threats that could impact their operations. This includes understanding the risks posed by insider threats, malware, denial-of-service attacks, and other forms of cyberattacks. By integrating risk management strategies into incident response planning, organizations can reduce the likelihood and potential impact of security incidents. This proactive approach enables security teams to prioritize resources, implement targeted security controls, and develop tailored response procedures for the most significant threats facing their organization.
Managing insider threats
Insider threats remain one of the most challenging risks for organizations, as they originate from individuals with legitimate access to sensitive data and systems. Effective incident response planning must account for the unique challenges posed by insider threats, combining both technical and organizational measures to detect and respond to suspicious activity. Incident response teams should implement robust monitoring of user activity, enforce strict access controls, and provide regular training to raise awareness about insider threats. When a potential insider threat is identified, incident response teams must be prepared to conduct thorough incident handling, including forensic analysis and evidence preservation, to determine the root cause and prevent recurrence. By prioritizing insider threat management within their incident response plans, organizations can better protect their sensitive data, reduce the risk of security incidents, and strengthen their overall security posture.
Incident response plan template for large businesses
It is easy to think that very large companies like Lockheed Martin or Pfizer are the only targets of those who aim to gain access to an organization’s data. However, every year, almost half of cyber-attacks are against small businesses. But due to limited resources, budget constraints, and a lack of cybersecurity expertise, small businesses may face unique challenges when developing an IRP. If internal resources are limited, small businesses can engage a service provider to assist with incident response, supplementing or replacing their internal teams.
Having an incident response plan in place, on the other hand, can assist small businesses in mitigating the impact of cyber incidents, minimize downtime, and lower associated costs. So it may be easier for small business teams to use templated steps and forms to create an effective incident response plan that works for them.
To get started, a small business IRP should include the following templated components.
- the incident response plan’s scope and objective
- the incident response team as well as their distinct roles and responsibilities
- communication protocols and processes for incident reporting and escalation
- event classification and severity levels
- a risk management plan that occurs after identifying possible threats and weaknesses
- incident response processes for various sorts of occurrences
- procedures for incident identification and monitoring
- procedures for incident containment and elimination
- preparation for a major incident, including escalation procedures and post-incident reviews to improve future response
- post-incident processes including recuperation and learning opportunities to ensure IRPs are effective and current with the latest cybersecurity threats and best practices
Pre-built incident response plan templates tailored to the needs and requirements of small businesses are available below. You can choose a template based on your company’s specific needs.
- SANS Institute Incident Response Plan for Small Business This template outlines how to create an incident response plan for a small business with limited resources.
- Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Incident Response Plan Template This template provides a customizable incident response plan for small businesses to detect, respond, and recover from cybersecurity incidents.
- Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Small Biz Cyber Planner 2.0 This tool assists small businesses in developing a personalized cybersecurity strategy that includes incident response planning, risk assessment, and mitigation strategies.
Examples of small businesses successfully implementing incident response plans include companies that used these templates to quickly contain ransomware attacks, recover from data breaches, and improve their security posture through regular post-incident reviews.
Large organizations can use the above resources from the SANS Institute, CISA, and the FCC as a reference, too, even if they are preparing for incidents across a broader enterprise landscape. It is also important for medium and bigger companies to check off all the templated steps above when preparing a plan.
Takeaways
Benjamin Franklin said, “by failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail,” and no truer statement can be made when it comes to creating an incident response plan for each area of your company that deals with any sort of data.
Having an incident response team in place that can execute your IRP will help ensure that the processes and procedures you have in place to squash an incoming attack are efficient and effective. There are many resources that companies of any size can take advantage of when it comes to properly preparing for the worst. The SANS Institute, CISA, and the FCC all have templated forms for organizations who are putting together IRPs and IRTs.
If you are a member of senior leadership, IT Management, or in charge of business processes, it’s time to take action and create an incident response plan to protect your data and systems. When you have a templated IRP for your company, you can extend the protection to each area that needs surveillance and guidance with ease.
And if you need help setting up more detailed security and scans of possible issues, Prey is here to help. Find out more with a free 14 day trial about how you can better protect your personnel, devices, and data across your entire organization.
