Identify key personnel and external resources

Identifying key internal and external personnel, resources, and legal obligations is critical to effectively anticipating, responding to, and recovering from security incidents. Ensuring that the right team members, expertise, and contacts are available during an incident helps coordinate an effective response, minimize the impact, and facilitate a swift recovery. This preparation includes designating key incident response roles, establishing partnerships with external experts, and understanding regulatory reporting requirements.

1. Identify key internal incident response personnel: Designate and train internal personnel responsible for incident response. This includes roles such as Incident Commander, Security Engineers, Cloud Administrators, Legal Counsel, and Communications Coordinators. Clearly define each person’s responsibilities, including initiating containment procedures, managing communications, and overseeing forensic investigations. Assign backup personnel to ensure coverage during holidays or absences.
2. Establish an Incident Response Team (IRT): Form an Incident Response Team (IRT) with representatives from key departments, including IT, Security, Legal, and Communications. This team should be responsible for coordinating all aspects of incident response, from initial detection to post-incident reviews. The IRT should be equipped with tools, access, and resources needed to manage incidents effectively.
3. Engage external cybersecurity experts: Identify and establish partnerships with external cybersecurity firms or consultants that can provide expertise during major incidents. External experts can assist with activities such as forensics, malware analysis, or advanced threat detection. They can also provide specialized support during incidents where additional resources are required. Establish contracts and retainer agreements with these experts ahead of time to ensure rapid access during a crisis.
4. Engage legal counsel for incident response: Identify internal or external legal counsel to advise on legal obligations related to incident response. Legal experts should provide guidance on compliance, data breach notification requirements, and managing legal risks associated with the incident. Having legal counsel involved helps ensure that incident response efforts align with regulatory obligations and mitigates the risk of legal repercussions.
5. Identify points of contact for regulatory reporting: Determine the legal and regulatory obligations related to data breaches and security incidents. Identify points of contact for regulatory bodies, such as data protection authorities, to ensure timely reporting in the event of a data breach. Prepare templates and guidelines for regulatory reporting to streamline the process if an incident occurs.
6. Identify key external communication contacts: Designate a Communications Coordinator responsible for managing external communications during an incident. This includes informing customers, stakeholders, and the media if necessary. Establish contacts with public relations firms to assist in crafting messages that minimize reputational damage. Define processes for communicating with affected parties in compliance with regulatory obligations, such as GDPR or HIPAA.
7. Establish relationships with cloud and service providers: Identify key personnel and support contacts for cloud providers, managed service providers, and other external vendors involved in your AWS environment. These contacts can assist with incident investigation, isolation, and recovery. Ensure that support contracts and SLAs include provisions for assistance during security incidents.
8. Maintain an incident response resource repository: Create and maintain an incident response resource repository that includes contact information for key personnel, external partners, cloud and service provider contacts, and communication templates. This repository should be accessible to the Incident Response Team at all times, including during off-hours and holidays.
9. Document legal and regulatory obligations: Maintain a clear understanding of all legal and regulatory obligations regarding security incidents, including data breach notifications and compliance requirements. Document these obligations to ensure that the incident response team is aware of their responsibilities and can comply promptly during an incident.

Supporting Questions:

• Who are the key internal and external personnel involved in incident response within your organization?
• What external resources or expertise are available to assist in responding to incidents?
• How do you ensure that legal and regulatory obligations are met during an incident response?

Roles and Responsibilities:

Incident Commander:

• Responsibilities:
  • Lead the incident response effort, coordinate actions across teams, and communicate status updates to leadership.
  • Make key decisions regarding incident containment, mitigation, and recovery.

Cloud Security Engineer:

• Responsibilities:
  • Work closely with the Incident Response Team to investigate, contain, and mitigate security incidents.
  • Analyze logs and data to determine the root cause of the incident and perform forensic analysis if required.

Communications Coordinator:

• Responsibilities:
  • Manage internal and external communications during an incident, including customer notifications and media statements.
  • Coordinate with public relations partners and ensure messages are aligned with the organization’s brand and regulatory requirements.

Legal Counsel:

• Responsibilities:
  • Advise on regulatory compliance, data breach notifications, and manage legal risks during an incident.
  • Provide guidance on coordinating incident response in a manner that meets legal obligations and mitigates liability.

Artefacts:

• Incident Response Playbooks: Playbooks detailing how incidents are handled, including roles and responsibilities, communication processes, and response procedures.
• Key Contact List: Contact information for internal personnel, external cybersecurity experts, legal counsel, cloud and service providers, and regulatory bodies.
• Regulatory Reporting Templates: Templates to facilitate compliance with data breach notification requirements, including information required by different regulatory authorities.

Relevant AWS Services:

AWS Incident Response and Management Tools:

• AWS Security Hub: Aggregates findings from multiple AWS services, providing a centralized view of security alerts that helps detect and coordinate responses to incidents.
• AWS Systems Manager Incident Manager: Coordinates incident response, allowing you to automate tasks, track incidents, and collaborate in real-time to mitigate and recover from incidents effectively.
• Amazon GuardDuty: Provides continuous monitoring for malicious or unauthorized activity, helping detect incidents in real time and trigger appropriate response actions.

Contact Management and Coordination Tools:

• AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM): Manages access permissions, ensuring that key personnel and incident response teams have the required access to investigate and respond to incidents.
• AWS Organizations: Manages multiple AWS accounts, providing centralized control for managing security and incident response across different environments.

Logging and Monitoring Tools:

• AWS CloudTrail: Logs API activity across your AWS environment, providing essential information for forensic investigations and incident response.
• Amazon CloudWatch: Monitors operational metrics and sets up alerts for unusual activity, ensuring that incidents are detected promptly and escalated to the Incident Response Team.

Compliance and Regulatory Tools:

• AWS Config: Monitors compliance and configuration changes, providing insights into potential misconfigurations that could lead to security incidents and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.