Overview
This policy establishes a formal structure for the identification, reporting, analysis, containment, response, recovery, and post-incident evaluation of information security incidents affecting the organization.
Establish a Formal Response Structure
Implement a repeatable and scalable incident response capability aligned with ISO/IEC 27035 and NIST.
Minimize Business Impact
Reduce operational disruption, financial loss, and reputational damage through structured containment and recovery.
Meet Breach Notification Deadlines
Ensure alignment with strict regulatory notification timelines under GDPR (72 hours), NIS2 (24 hours), and DORA.
Drive Continuous Improvement
Promote cyber resilience through structured Post-Incident Reviews (PIRs) and lessons learned.
Read Full Overview
The Incident Response Policy is designed to provide a comprehensive framework for managing information security incidents within an organization. This policy ensures timely and effective responses to incidents, minimizing potential operational disruption, financial loss, and reputational damage. By defining a formal structure for the identification, reporting, analysis, containment, response, recovery, and post-incident evaluation of security incidents, the policy supports compliance with international standards like ISO/IEC 27001 and regulatory frameworks such as GDPR and NIS2. This policy is applicable to all personnel, including employees, contractors, and third-party service providers, and covers all information systems, applications, infrastructure, networks, and data, whether on-premises or in the cloud. It addresses various types of security incidents, such as unauthorized access, malware attacks, and data breaches, and prescribes structured processes for detection, triage, investigation, escalation, containment, evidence handling, notification, recovery, and root cause analysis. Adopting this policy helps organizations establish a repeatable and scalable incident response capability, enabling swift detection, classification, and mitigation of security incidents. It ensures alignment with legal, regulatory, and contractual requirements, particularly regarding breach notification timelines and evidence handling. The Incident Response Policy also emphasizes continuous improvement through post-incident reviews, corrective actions, and stakeholder training, fostering a culture of accountability and transparency. By integrating this policy, organizations can enhance their cyber resilience posture, reassuring stakeholders that they are well-prepared to handle potential security threats effectively. In moments of crisis, having an Incident Response Policy in place provides the confidence and clarity needed to act decisively, knowing that every step is guided by best practices and regulatory compliance requirements.
What’s Inside
Roles and Responsibilities: Clear duties for the CISO, Incident Response Coordinator, SOC, Legal, and all personnel.
Tiered Incident Response Framework: A formal, multi-phase framework covering Preparation, Detection, Containment, and Post-Incident Review.
Incident Classification Model: A tiered model (Critical, High, Medium/Low) to guide severity assessment and escalation priorities.
Policy Implementation Requirements: Specific procedures for triage, containment, recovery, and post-recovery validation.
Breach Notification Requirements: Detailed guidance on assessing and meeting notification duties under GDPR, NIS2, and DORA.
Digital Forensics & Evidence Handling: Procedures for evidence collection, chain-of-custody, and secure storage.
Built for Leaders, By Leaders
This policy isn't just a template; it's an audit-defensible document crafted by seasoned cybersecurity leaders. Every clause is designed for practical implementation within complex enterprise environments, ensuring you can meet auditor requirements without disrupting operational workflows.
Framework Compliance
🛡️ Supported Standards & Frameworks
This product is aligned with the following compliance frameworks, with detailed clause and control mappings.
| Framework | Covered Clauses / Controls |
|---|---|
| ISO/IEC 27001:2022 | Clause 8.1Clause 9.1 |
| ISO/IEC 27002:2022 | Controls 5.25-5.27 |
| NIST SP 800-53 Rev.5 | IR-1 through IR-9 |
| EU GDPR | Article 33(1)33(3)(a)-(d)34(1)34(2)(a)-(c) |
| EU NIS2 | Article 23(1)-(4) |
| EU DORA | Article 17(1)-(3) |
| COBIT 2019 | DSS02DSS04MEA01 |
Part of a Complete ISMS Toolkit
This policy is one of 37 documents in our complete toolkit, designed for comprehensive compliance.
100%
ISO 27001
95%
NIST
88%
NIS2
75%
DORA
70%
GDPR
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About This Policy
The Clarysec Incident Response Policy establishes a formal, structured framework for managing the entire lifecycle of an information security incident. Its purpose is to ensure timely and effective responses to minimize operational disruption, financial loss, and reputational damage. By aligning with key frameworks like ISO 27001, NIST, GDPR, and DORA, this policy provides a repeatable and scalable capability for detecting, containing, and recovering from all types of security events.
This policy's scope is comprehensive, applying to all personnel, information systems, applications, and data across on-premises and cloud environments. It covers a wide range of incidents, including malware attacks, unauthorized access, data breaches, and insider misuse. The policy defines clear roles and responsibilities for the CISO, SOC, legal teams, and all employees, ensuring a coordinated and compliant response that meets strict regulatory notification deadlines.
