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Security Incident Response Guide

How to prepare for and respond to security incidents.

Operations

Security Incident Response Guide


Having a plan for security incidents helps minimize damage and recovery time.


Preparation


1. Create an Incident Response Plan

  • Define roles and responsibilities
  • Establish communication channels
  • Document procedures
  • Set up monitoring

    • 2. Set Up Monitoring

  • Security event logging
  • Intrusion detection
  • Anomaly detection
  • Alert systems

    • 3. Prepare Tools

  • Forensic tools
  • Backup systems
  • Communication tools
  • Documentation templates

    • Detection


    Signs of an Incident

  • Unusual network traffic
  • Unexpected system behavior
  • Failed login attempts
  • Data access anomalies
  • Performance degradation

    • Monitoring Sources

  • Application logs
  • Server logs
  • Network logs
  • Security tools
  • User reports

    • Response Steps


    1. Containment

  • Isolate affected systems
  • Preserve evidence
  • Prevent further damage
  • Document actions

    • 2. Eradication

  • Remove threats
  • Patch vulnerabilities
  • Update systems
  • Change credentials

    • 3. Recovery

  • Restore from backups
  • Verify system integrity
  • Test functionality
  • Monitor for recurrence

    • 4. Post-Incident

  • Document incident
  • Analyze root cause
  • Update procedures
  • Improve defenses

    • Communication


  • Internal team notification
  • Management reporting
  • User notification (if needed)
  • Regulatory reporting (if required)

    • Lessons Learned


    After each incident:

  • Review what happened
  • Identify improvements
  • Update procedures
  • Train team members

    • Related Guides

    Web Security Best PracticesGetting Started with Web Security

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