Full Answer Section

Selected Article and Information Source:

• Article: “An Effective Information Security Incident Response Policy: Key Components and Best Practices” by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) | https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/specialpublications/nist.sp.800-61r2.pdf
• Supporting Information: “Information Security Incident Response Policy Template” by SANS Institute | https://www.sans.org/information-security-policy/

Article Summary:

The NIST article outlines the key components and best practices for establishing an effective information security incident response (ISIR) policy. It defines an ISIR policy as a documented plan outlining how an organization will identify, contain, eradicate, and recover from security incidents.

Key points covered include:

• Policy Scope: Defining the types of incidents covered under the policy.
• Incident Response Team: Establishing roles and responsibilities for team members involved in incident response.
• Incident Detection and Reporting: outlining procedures for identifying and reporting suspicious activity.
• Containment and Eradication: Defining actions to mitigate the impact of an incident and remove the threat.
• Recovery and Restoration: Outlining procedures for restoring affected systems and services.
• Communication and Escalation: Defining communication protocols with internal and external stakeholders.
• Documentation and Improvement: Emphasizing the importance of documenting activities and learning from incidents for continuous improvement.

The article emphasizes the importance of tailoring the ISIR policy to the specific needs and risks of the organization.

Supporting Information:

The SANS Institute template provides a sample ISIR policy document with customizable sections addressing the key components outlined in the NIST article. This resource offers a practical starting point for organizations to develop their own policies.

Rationale for Selection:

• Relevance: Information security incidents are a major concern for modern organizations, making an ISIR policy crucial for effective cyber defense.
• Credibility: Both sources are from highly respected institutions in the cybersecurity domain, ensuring reliable and authoritative information.
• Complementary nature: The combination of the NIST article’s comprehensive overview and the SANS Institute’s practical template provides a well-rounded understanding of effective ISIR policy development.

By exploring these resources, you can gain valuable insights into crafting an information security incident response policy that safeguards your organization against cyber threats.