Incident Response Framework Development
Incident Response Framework Development
A well-structured incident response framework provides the foundation for effective security incident management. The framework must address technical, procedural, and organizational aspects while remaining flexible enough to handle various incident types. Understanding established frameworks like NIST SP 800-61 helps organizations develop customized approaches suited to their specific needs.
The incident response lifecycle consists of six key phases: Preparation, Identification, Containment, Eradication, Recovery, and Lessons Learned. Each phase requires specific actions, tools, and decision criteria:
# Incident Response Framework Configuration
incident_response_framework:
phases:
preparation:
activities:
- Establish incident response team
- Define communication channels
- Deploy monitoring tools
- Create response playbooks
- Conduct training exercises
tools:
- SIEM platforms
- Forensic toolkits
- Communication systems
- Documentation templates
identification:
triggers:
- IDS/IPS alerts
- Antivirus detections
- User reports
- System anomalies
- Third-party notifications
initial_assessment:
- Verify incident occurrence
- Determine scope and impact
- Classify severity level
- Activate response team
containment:
short_term:
- Isolate affected systems
- Block malicious IPs
- Disable compromised accounts
- Preserve evidence
long_term:
- Deploy temporary fixes
- Increase monitoring
- Implement additional controls
- Prepare for eradication
eradication:
actions:
- Remove malware
- Delete unauthorized access
- Patch vulnerabilities
- Reset credentials
- Verify system integrity
recovery:
steps:
- Restore from clean backups
- Rebuild compromised systems
- Validate security controls
- Monitor for reinfection
- Gradual service restoration
lessons_learned:
activities:
- Conduct post-incident review
- Document timeline and actions
- Identify improvement areas
- Update response procedures
- Share threat intelligence
Incident classification enables appropriate response escalation and resource allocation. Define clear criteria for severity levels:
#!/usr/bin/env python3
"""
Incident Classification and Escalation System
"""
from enum import Enum
from dataclasses import dataclass
from typing import List, Optional
import json
class IncidentSeverity(Enum):
LOW = 1 # Minimal impact, no data loss
MEDIUM = 2 # Limited impact, potential data exposure
HIGH = 3 # Significant impact, confirmed data breach
CRITICAL = 4 # Severe impact, ongoing attack or major breach
@dataclass
class IncidentCriteria:
"""Criteria for incident classification"""
data_classification: str
systems_affected: int
user_impact: str
business_function_impact: str
external_parties_affected: bool
def calculate_severity(self) -> IncidentSeverity:
"""Calculate incident severity based on criteria"""
score = 0
# Data classification scoring
if self.data_classification == "public":
score += 1
elif self.data_classification == "internal":
score += 2
elif self.data_classification == "confidential":
score += 3
elif self.data_classification == "restricted":
score += 4
# Systems affected scoring
if self.systems_affected > 100:
score += 4
elif self.systems_affected > 10:
score += 3
elif self.systems_affected > 1:
score += 2
else:
score += 1
# Business impact scoring
if self.business_function_impact == "critical":
score += 4
elif self.business_function_impact == "high":
score += 3
elif self.business_function_impact == "medium":
score += 2
else:
score += 1
# External parties
if self.external_parties_affected:
score += 2
# Determine severity
if score >= 12:
return IncidentSeverity.CRITICAL
elif score >= 8:
return IncidentSeverity.HIGH
elif score >= 5:
return IncidentSeverity.MEDIUM
else:
return IncidentSeverity.LOW
class IncidentResponsePlan:
"""Automated incident response planning"""
def __init__(self):
self.escalation_matrix = {
IncidentSeverity.LOW: {
"response_time": "4 hours",
"team_members": ["on-call analyst"],
"notifications": ["team lead"],
"communication": "email"
},
IncidentSeverity.MEDIUM: {
"response_time": "1 hour",
"team_members": ["on-call analyst", "security engineer"],
"notifications": ["security manager", "IT manager"],
"communication": "email + slack"
},
IncidentSeverity.HIGH: {
"response_time": "30 minutes",
"team_members": ["full security team", "system administrators"],
"notifications": ["CISO", "CTO", "legal"],
"communication": "phone + email + slack"
},
IncidentSeverity.CRITICAL: {
"response_time": "15 minutes",
"team_members": ["all hands", "external consultants"],
"notifications": ["C-suite", "board", "legal", "PR"],
"communication": "emergency call tree"
}
}
def generate_response_plan(self, incident_criteria: IncidentCriteria) -> dict:
"""Generate response plan based on incident criteria"""
severity = incident_criteria.calculate_severity()
escalation = self.escalation_matrix[severity]
return {
"severity": severity.name,
"response_requirements": escalation,
"immediate_actions": self._get_immediate_actions(severity),
"communication_plan": self._get_communication_plan(severity),
"resource_allocation": self._get_resources(severity)
}
def _get_immediate_actions(self, severity: IncidentSeverity) -> List[str]:
"""Define immediate actions based on severity"""
actions = [
"Activate incident response team",
"Begin evidence collection",
"Document initial observations"
]
if severity in [IncidentSeverity.HIGH, IncidentSeverity.CRITICAL]:
actions.extend([
"Isolate affected systems",
"Activate business continuity plan",
"Engage legal counsel",
"Prepare external communications"
])
if severity == IncidentSeverity.CRITICAL:
actions.extend([
"Activate crisis management team",
"Engage law enforcement",
"Notify cyber insurance provider",
"Implement emergency containment"
])
return actions