Cyber incident response plan

1. Purpose

The purpose of this Cyber Incident Response Plan (CIRP) is to establish a structured and effective approach to respond to and recover from cyber incidents, minimising the impact on Squirrel Learning Ltd’s operations, data, and reputation. This plan outlines the procedures for identifying, reporting, managing, and resolving cyber incidents to ensure business continuity and protect sensitive information.

2. Scope

This plan applies to all employees, contractors, consultants, temporary workers, and other personnel at Squirrel Learning Ltd. It covers all types of cyber incidents, including but not limited to data breaches, malware infections, phishing attacks, denial-of-service attacks, and insider threats.

3. Objectives

• Detection: Identify and detect cyber incidents promptly using automated tools and employee vigilance.
• Response: Respond quickly and effectively to contain and mitigate the impact of incidents.
• Recovery: Restore normal operations as soon as possible while ensuring the integrity and security of systems.
• Communication: Ensure clear, timely, and accurate communication internally and externally during and after incidents.
• Documentation: Maintain comprehensive records of incidents and response actions for future reference and compliance.
• Improvement: Learn from incidents to enhance future incident response and prevent recurrence.

4. Roles and Responsibilities

• Incident Response Team (IRT):
  • Team Lead:
    • Coordinates incident response efforts.
    • Communicates with senior management and external parties.
    • Ensures adherence to the CIRP.
  • IT Security Specialist:
    • Analyses the incident to determine its nature and scope.
    • Implements technical measures to mitigate the threat.
    • Conducts forensic investigations as needed.
  • Network Administrator:
    • Manages network-related aspects of the incident.
    • Implements network isolation and traffic monitoring.
  • Communications Officer:
    • Manages internal and external communications.
    • Prepares and disseminates incident reports and public statements.
  • Legal Advisor:
    • Provides legal guidance on regulatory and compliance issues.
    • Assists in the preparation of notifications to regulatory authorities.

5. Incident Identification and Reporting

• Detection Mechanisms:
  • Implement and regularly update intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS).
  • Monitor security logs and alerts using a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system.
  • Conduct regular phishing simulations, vulnerability scans, and penetration testing.
• Reporting:
  • Employees must report suspected cyber incidents immediately to the IT department via the incident reporting system.
  • The IT department should be reachable 24/7 to respond to incident reports.

6. Incident Classification

Incidents will be classified based on their severity and impact on operations:

• Low: Minimal impact on operations; no sensitive data compromised.
  • Example: A single employee's workstation infected with adware.
• Medium: Moderate impact on operations; limited data exposure.
  • Example: Phishing attack affecting several employees, resulting in limited data access.
• High: Significant impact on operations; sensitive data compromised.
  • Example: Ransomware attack affecting multiple systems and encrypting critical data.
• Critical: Severe impact on operations; widespread data breach; potential legal and regulatory consequences.
  • Example: Large-scale data breach involving customer personal information.

7. Incident Response Procedures

• Initial Response:
  • Low: Document the incident, assess the impact, and resolve the issue within the IT department.
  • Medium to Critical: Notify the Incident Response Team (IRT) immediately. Convene an emergency meeting to discuss the incident.
• Containment:
  • Isolate affected systems to prevent further damage.
  • Implement firewall rules to block malicious traffic.
  • Disable compromised accounts and enforce password changes.
• Eradication:
  • Remove malicious software using advanced malware removal tools.
  • Conduct a thorough analysis to ensure the threat is completely eliminated.
  • Apply security patches and updates to affected systems.
• Recovery:
  • Restore systems from clean, verified backups.
  • Monitor systems closely for signs of reinfection or further compromise.
  • Resume normal operations once systems are confirmed secure, following a phased approach if necessary.
• Documentation:
  • Maintain detailed records of each step taken during the response.
  • Include timestamps, actions taken, individuals involved, and outcomes.

8. Communication Plan

• Internal Communication:
  • Keep employees informed about the incident status and any actions they need to take through regular updates via email, intranet, or company meetings.
  • Conduct regular briefings with senior management to provide status updates and seek guidance.
• External Communication:
  • Notify affected customers and stakeholders as required by law and company policy.
  • Issue public statements if necessary, with guidance from the Communications Officer.
  • Coordinate with regulatory authorities as needed, ensuring compliance with GDPR and other relevant regulations.

9. Documentation and Reporting

• Maintain comprehensive records of the incident, including:
  • Date and time of detection and reporting.
  • Description of the incident, its scope, and its impact.
  • Actions taken during response and recovery.
  • Communications made to internal and external parties.
  • Lessons learned and recommendations for future improvements.
• Submit a detailed incident report to senior management and relevant regulatory bodies as required.

10. Post-Incident Review

• Conduct a post-incident review to:
  • Analyse the effectiveness of the response and identify any gaps.
  • Develop an action plan to address identified weaknesses and enhance future response efforts.
  • Update the Cyber Incident Response Plan, information security policies, and other relevant procedures based on lessons learned.
  • Document the review findings and distribute them to relevant stakeholders.

11. Training and Awareness

• Employee Training:
  • Provide mandatory, annual information security training to all employees, covering incident detection, reporting, and response procedures.
  • Include training on recognizing phishing attacks, safe internet practices, and data protection principles.
• Incident Response Team Training:
  • Ensure all members of the Incident Response Team receive specialised training on incident response techniques, tools, and best practices.
  • Conduct periodic incident response drills and tabletop exercises to test the team’s readiness and improve coordination.
• Awareness Programs:
  • Regularly update employees on emerging threats and security best practices through newsletters, webinars, and workshops.
  • Conduct phishing simulations to test and reinforce employee awareness and response.

12. Continuous Improvement

• Policy Review:
  • Regularly review and update the Cyber Incident Response Plan to address emerging threats and changes in the organisation.
  • Conduct annual reviews and incorporate feedback from post-incident reviews and training exercises.
• Industry Collaboration:
  • Stay informed about the latest cybersecurity trends, threats, and best practices through industry forums, conferences, and professional networks.
  • Collaborate with other organisations to share knowledge, resources, and improve incident response capabilities.
• Technology Updates:
  • Regularly update security tools, systems, and processes to leverage the latest advancements and protect against evolving threats.
  • Implement new technologies and methodologies as appropriate to enhance the organization’s security posture.

Approved by:

Name: Gavin Hawkins
Title: CEO
Date: 6th August 2024

This plan may be updated as required to address emerging threats and changes in regulatory requirements. All employees are expected to familiarize themselves with this plan and adhere strictly to its guidelines.

For questions or additional information regarding this plan, please contact the IT Department at Squirrel Learning Ltd.