Free Business Incident Response Plan Template

Business Incident Response Plan

Written by: [Your Name]

I. Introduction

This Incident Response Plan (IRP) outlines the procedures and responsibilities for handling security incidents at [Your Company Name]. The objective is to effectively manage and mitigate the impact of incidents, ensuring the security and integrity of our systems and data.

II. Purpose and Objectives

  • To establish a structured approach for responding to security incidents.

  • To minimize the impact of incidents on business operations.

  • To ensure timely and efficient recovery from incidents.

  • To comply with legal and regulatory requirements.

III. Scope

This plan applies to all employees, contractors, and third-party service providers of [Your Company Name]. It covers all types of security incidents, including but not limited to:

  • Data breaches

  • Malware infections

  • Denial of service attacks

  • Unauthorized access

  • Insider threats

IV. Incident Response Team (IRT)

A. Members and Roles

Name

Role

Contact Information

[Team Member Name 1]

Incident Response Lead

[Contact Information]

[Team Member Name 2]

IT Specialist

[Contact Information]

[Team Member Name 3]

Communication Manager

[Contact Information]

[Team Member Name 4]

Legal Advisor

[Contact Information]

[Team Member Name 5]

HR Representative

[Contact Information]

V. Incident Classification

Incidents will be classified based on severity and impact:

  1. Low: Minor incidents with little or no impact on operations.

  2. Medium: Incidents causing limited disruption to services or data integrity.

  3. High: Major incidents with significant impact on operations or sensitive data.

VI. Incident Response Procedures

A. Identification

  • Monitor systems and networks for unusual activity.

  • Report suspected incidents to the Incident Response Lead.

B. Containment

  • Isolate affected systems to prevent further spread.

  • Implement temporary fixes if necessary.

C. Eradication

  • Identify and remove the root cause of the incident.

  • Apply patches or updates to vulnerable systems.

D. Recovery

  • Restore systems to normal operation.

  • Verify the integrity and functionality of affected systems.

E. Lessons Learned

  • Conduct a post-incident review.

  • Update the IRP based on findings.

  • Train staff on new procedures or threats.

VII. Communication Plan

A. Internal Communication

  • Notify the Incident Response Team immediately.

  • Keep relevant departments informed of the incident status.

B. External Communication

  • Communicate with affected customers or stakeholders as needed.

  • Coordinate with legal and public relations teams to manage external messaging.

VIII. Documentation and Reporting

  • Maintain detailed records of the incident and response actions.

  • Complete an incident report within 24 hours of resolution.

  • Store incident documentation securely.

IX. Incident Response Checklist

Identify and classify the incident.

Notify the Incident Response Team.

Contain the incident.

Eradicate the root cause.

Recover affected systems.

Document the incident and response actions.

Conduct a post-incident review.

Update the Incident Response Plan.

X. Plan Review and Maintenance

  • Review the Incident Response Plan annually.

  • Update the plan as needed based on new threats or changes in the organization.

  • Conduct regular training and drills for the Incident Response Team.

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