Incident Response Plan for High5.ID
1. Purpose
The purpose of this Incident Response Plan (IRP) is to provide a framework for High5.ID, the software provider, to effectively respond to security incidents and data breaches within the school district’s software ecosystem. This plan aims to minimize the impact of incidents, protect sensitive information, and ensure the prompt recovery of services, thereby maintaining the trust and confidence of the school district.
2. Incident Categorization
Incidents will be categorized into the following levels based on severity:
- Level 1: Low impact incidents with minor disruptions and limited data exposure.
- Level 2: Moderate impact incidents potentially affecting a significant number of users or exposing sensitive data.
- Level 3: High impact incidents with critical services affected and substantial data exposure.
3. Incident Response Team
The Incident Response Team (IRT) comprises the following key roles:
- Incident Manager: Oversees the overall coordination, decision-making, and communication during incident response.
- Technical Lead: Manages technical aspects of incident response, including system analysis and recovery.
- Legal Counsel: Provides guidance on legal and regulatory obligations and ensures compliance.
- Public Relations Representative: Handles external communications and public relations during and after incidents.
- System Administrator: Provides technical support and assistance for incident response activities.
- Security Officer: Ensures adherence to security protocols, offers security expertise, and advises on incident response.
4. Incident Response Procedures
4.1. Detection and Reporting
- Establish robust monitoring systems to promptly detect security incidents.
- Encourage employees, users, and school district personnel to report any suspicious activities or potential incidents.
- Establish a clear incident reporting process with designated contacts within the school district.
4.2. Assessment and Triage
- The Incident Manager or designated team member
- Assesses reported incidents to determine severity and impact.
- Activates the IRT promptly based on the incident’s severity level.
4.3. Containment and Mitigation
- Isolate affected systems or applications to prevent further damage or data loss.
- Implement temporary measures to mitigate the incident’s impact and restore essential services.
- Identify the root cause and take necessary steps to address vulnerabilities or weaknesses.
4.4. Investigation and Analysis
- Conduct a thorough investigation to determine the scope, extent, and cause of the incident.
- Collect and preserve evidence related to the incident for legal and regulatory purposes.
- Engage external forensic experts if required to assist with analysis.
4.5. Notification and Communication
- Comply with legal and regulatory requirements regarding incident reporting and data breach notifications.
- Inform the school district’s designated contacts promptly about the incident, its impact, and ongoing mitigation efforts.
- Coordinate with the school district to ensure accurate and timely communication to affected parties, such as students, parents, and staff.
4.6. Recovery and Remediation
- Restore affected systems, applications, or services using backups or alternate infrastructure.
- Implement necessary patches, updates, or security measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
- Conduct post-incident analysis and identify lessons learned to enhance future incident response.
4.7. Lessons Learned and Continuous Improvement
- Conduct a post-incident review with the IRT to identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement.
- Update the incident response plan based on lessons learned and emerging best practices.
- Provide training and awareness programs to employees and users on incident response and security practices.
5. Plan Activation and Testing
- The circumstances that trigger plan activation are:
- The IRT becoming aware of unauthorized access to the High5.ID servers
- Reception of threats or negotiation for the release of private data
6. Plan Maintenance and Distribution
- The IRT will
- Regularly review and update the plan to reflect changes in technology, threats, and school district requirements.
- Conduct periodic tests and simulations to validate the effectiveness and efficiency of the plan.
- Ensure the plan is readily accessible to all members of the IRT and relevant stakeholders.
- Review and update the plan on a regular basis, incorporating changes in software, infrastructure, or the regulatory landscape.
- Communicate updates to the school district and stakeholders as necessary.