What are some of the frameworks and standards that guide incident response?

As a cybersecurity professional, I’ve found NIST SP 800-61 to be an invaluable framework for structuring our incident response efforts. In a recent case, our team dealt with a significant phishing attack. Using the NIST framework, we meticulously followed the four phases, which ensured a structured and effective response. During the preparation phase, we had already established clear protocols and training, which made detection and analysis swift. Containment was executed efficiently by isolating affected systems, and during eradication, we ensured all traces of the phishing malware were removed.

In the end the decision of where to start from depends on you company capabilities. The folowing might be taken into consideration: NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF): Provides guidelines on managing cybersecurity risks, including the Respond function for incident response. ISO/IEC 27035: Offers a structured approach to incident management, detailing how to plan and prepare, detect and report, assess and decide, respond, and lessons learned. SANS Incident Handling Process: A well-regarded methodology outlining six steps: Preparation, Identification, Containment, Eradication, Recovery, and Lessons Learned. CIS Controls: Includes specific controls for incident response and management. CERT/CC Incident Response Guidelines

The NIST SP 800-61 offers a practical approach to managing the unexpected. It encompasses everything from policies to tools, ensuring teams are well-equipped to handle crises. At its core, it outlines four critical phases: preparation, detection and analysis, containment, eradication, and recovery, and post-incident activity. Its adaptable nature makes it a trusted ally for entities of varying sizes and types, ensuring they can tailor their response to the unique challenges they face. Embracing this framework is a proactive step towards fortifying one's digital defenses against the ever-evolving threats of the cyber world.

The frameworks and standards that guide incident response include NIST SP 800-61, which gives a systematic method to handling incidents, and ISO/IEC 27035, which describes best practices for incident management. CIS Controls prescribe particular steps for identifying and responding to attacks, but SANS Incident Response provides a thorough six-step procedure for resolving security incidents. Furthermore, the MITRE ATT&CK methodology identifies attack patterns and techniques to improve response methods, while COBIT provides governance standards for successful event management.

Key frameworks and standards guiding incident response include: 1. NIST SP 800-61: The National Institute of Standards and Tech provides a comprehensive guide for developing and maintaining incident response capabilities, emphasizing preparation, detection, analysis, containment, eradication, and recovery. 2. ISO/IEC 27035: Offers a structured approach to incident management, including guidelines for planning and preparing, detection and reporting. 3. SANS Institute’s Incident Handling Process: Details six steps: preparation, identification, containment, eradication, recovery, and lessons learned, focusing on practical and actionable strategies. 4. CERT/CC: The Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Center framework.

NIST Cybersecurity Framework (NIST CSF) National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), this framework provides a comprehensive approach to managing cybersecurity risks and improving incident response. Core Functions: Identify: Understand your environment and the risks associated with it. Protect: Implement safeguards to limit or contain the impact of a potential incident. Detect: Implement monitoring to identify the occurrence of a cybersecurity event. Respond: Develop and implement response strategies and protocols. Recover: Plan for recovery and resilience following an incident. NIST Special Publication 800-61 Key Sections: Preparation Detection and Analysis Containment, Eradication, and Recovery Post-Incident Activity

The NIST SP 800-61 holds a prominent position as a comprehensive and esteemed framework for incident response. It outlines practical strategies encompassing incident response policy, team coordination, procedures, tools, reporting, and improvement. With a focus on four distinct phases of incident response, the NIST SP 800-61 framework ensures adaptability and scalability for organizations of various sizes and types. It serves as a valuable resource, empowering organizations to effectively manage and mitigate security incidents while catering to their specific requirements.

This standard, part of the esteemed ISO/IEC 27000 family, offers a systematic approach to managing security incidents. It's built on the plan-do-check-act (PDCA) cycle, ensuring a continuous loop of improvement. The standard delineates five phases: planning and preparation, identification and reporting, assessment and decision-making, response, and learning and improvement. It's a framework that not only guides but also aligns with overarching information security management principles, empowering organizations to respond to incidents with precision and adaptability. Embracing ISO/IEC 27035 is a strategic move towards fortifying an organization's information security posture in an ever-evolving digital landscape

ISO/IEC 27035 provides a structured methodology for managing security incidents using the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle with its five phases. By using it you will have some benefits because the standard: - Provides a consistent, systematic methodology. - Enhances readiness with clear policies and procedures. - Ensures timely identification and documentation of incidents. - Thoroughly evaluates impact for appropriate response. - Guides targeted measures to mitigate and resolve incidents. - Promotes ongoing refinement through post-incident analysis. - Aligns with ISO/IEC 27000 series for cohesive security management. - Strengthens overall organizational security and resilience.

ISO/IEC 27035, the Information Security Incident Management Standard, offers a structured approach to incident response, aligned with the ISO/IEC 27000 series. It follows a plan-do-check-act cycle and comprises five phases: plan and prepare, identify and report, assess and decide, respond, and learn and improve. Plan and Prepare: Set up incident management, establish policies, form a response team, and develop response plans. Identify and Report: Detect and report incidents promptly through system monitoring and analysis. Assess, Respond, and Learn: Evaluate incident severity, respond effectively, and learn from the incident to improve future responses.

The SANS Incident Handling Methodology illuminates the path of incident response with its six-step approach. It's a journey that begins with preparation, where readiness is key. Identification follows, a crucial step where vigilance meets analysis. Containment ensures that threats are isolated, preventing further spread. Eradication is the cleansing phase, purging the malicious elements. Recovery is the restoration of normalcy, a return to operational stability. The final step, lessons learned, is the reflective process that turns experience into wisdom. This methodology is a testament to the SANS Institute's commitment to best practices and excellence in cybersecurity training.

The SANS Incident Handling Methodology has proven particularly effective in guiding our incident response processes. For instance, during a ransomware attack, the six-step approach provided a clear roadmap. Preparation was crucial, as our team had pre-established protocols and regularly trained on ransomware scenarios. Identification and containment were executed promptly, limiting the spread of the malware. The eradication process involved detailed forensics to ensure complete removal of malicious code, while recovery focused on restoring systems from clean backups. The lessons learned phase was invaluable, allowing us to review the incident comprehensively and strengthen our defenses against future attacks.

The SANS Incident Handling Methodology is a key framework from the SANS Institute, covering six steps: preparation, identification, containment, eradication, recovery, and lessons learned. It provides detailed guidance on evidence collection, system containment, malware removal, system restoration, and incident documentation and review. Preparation: Set up an incident response capability with policies, a trained team, and necessary tools. Develop and test response plans. Identification: Detect and confirm security incidents through monitoring and analysis. Containment, Eradication, and Recovery: Isolate affected systems. Remove malicious components. Restore and secure systems. SANS helps manage incidents efficiently and reduce their impact.

Integrating the MITRE ATT&CK framework into our incident response strategy has significantly enhanced our understanding of attacker behaviors and improved our detection capabilities. For example, during a sophisticated APT attack, leveraging MITRE ATT&CK allowed us to identify specific TTPs used by the attackers. This insight enabled us to deploy targeted defenses and improve our monitoring systems. Additionally, the NIST Cybersecurity Framework has been instrumental in assessing and elevating our overall security posture, ensuring that we not only respond effectively to incidents but also proactively strengthen our defenses.

Apart from the other three, there are three others to help: COBIT (Control Objectives for Information and Related Technologies): This provides a framework for IT governance and management, including guidelines for incident management to ensure effective response and resolution. ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library): This focuses on aligning IT services with business needs. It includes processes for managing and responding to incidents to maintain service quality. CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team) Guidelines: This offers best practices for establishing and operating a computer security incident response team (CSIRT).

One real-life example that highlights the importance of a comprehensive incident response plan involved a client experiencing a large-scale DDoS attack. By having a robust incident response framework in place, we quickly mitigated the attack and minimized downtime. This experience underscored the need for continuous improvement and adaptation. Post-incident reviews are crucial, as they provide insights into the effectiveness of the response and highlight areas for enhancement. For instance, after the DDoS incident, we implemented additional safeguards and refined our response strategies, ensuring better preparedness for future attacks.

Frameworks and standards in incident response are essential for organizations for several reasons. They ensure consistent and effective handling of incidents, incorporate industry best practices to improve response capabilities, and help meet regulatory requirements, reducing legal and financial risks. By following these guidelines, organizations can streamline their response processes, minimize the impact of incidents, and continuously enhance their security posture through learning and improvement.