Incident Response Frameworks

A structured incident response (IR) framework enables organizations to react effectively to security incidents, minimizing damage and recovery time. Adopting a recognized standard ensures comprehensive coverage of the incident lifecycle.

NIST IR Framework (SP 800-61)

The NIST Computer Security Incident Handling Guide defines a four-phase lifecycle widely adopted in the industry.

Phase 1: Preparation
Preparation is fundamental to effective response. It establishes policies, procedures, and governance. It requires assembling the IR team and defining contact lists. Tools and technology must be deployed and configured before incidents occur. Regular training and exercises ensure the team knows how to operate when under pressure.

Phase 2: Detection & Analysis
This phase involves monitoring systems to identify potential incidents. Alerts must be triaged to filter false positives. prioritizing true incidents involves analyzing the scope and impact. Documentation begins immediately, preserving evidence and recording actions taken.

Phase 3: Containment, Eradication & Recovery
Containment limits the damage while the incident is active. Short-term containment stops the bleeding (e.g., isolating a host), while long-term containment allows business continuity. Eradication removes the root cause (e.g., deleting malware, disabling accounts). Recovery restores systems to normal operation, validating that they are clean and functional before reconnection.

Phase 4: Post-Incident Activity
After the incident, the team conducts a "lessons learned" meeting to analyze what happened and how well the response worked. The final report documents the incident for management and compliance. The process closes the loop by implementing improvements to prevent recurrence.

IR Capability Maturity

Organizations evolve their incident response capabilities through defined maturity levels. At Level 1 (Initial), response is ad-hoc and chaotic, dependent on individual heroism without formal processes. As they advance to Level 2 (Developing), processes become documented with defined roles and basic training. Level 3 (Defined) marks the standardization of playbooks, recurring exercises, and performance tracking. By Level 4 (Managed), quantitative metrics drive improvement, and processes are integrated with business goals. Finally, at Level 5 (Optimizing), advanced capabilities like threat intelligence integration and automated response become fully operational, creating a resilient and adaptive defense.