SOC2 Incident Response Plan Template Download

Introduction

An Incident Response Plan (IRP) is a structured strategy that guides organizations in preparing for, detecting, responding to, and recovering from security incidents. Its purpose is to minimize damage, restore services quickly, protect sensitive information, and ensure compliance with regulatory obligations. By following the steps outlined in this plan, organizations strengthen resilience, safeguard digital and physical assets, and continuously improve their response capabilities.

Step-By-Step Guide For Using The Incident Response Plan

Step 1: Define the Scope and Applicability

• • What to do: Ensure all individuals interacting with organizational systems—staff, contractors, visitors, and third parties—are aware of their responsibilities under the IRP.
    
    

• Why it matters: Incidents can be triggered by any user, not only employees. Extending coverage ensures no potential gaps in accountability.

Step 2: Assign Roles and Responsibilities

• • Management: Approves and funds incident response activities, ensuring compliance.

  • Incident Response Manager (IRM): Senior authority accountable for overall response and reporting to the CEO.

  • Incident Response Officer (IRO): Leads the Incident Response Team (IRT), activates the plan, and coordinates all activities.

  • SOC Analysts: Detect suspicious activity, monitor systems, and provide early alerts.

  • Employees: Follow security policies, report issues, and cooperate during investigations.
    
    

• Why it matters: Clear delegation ensures quick, organized responses, avoiding delays in decision-making.

Step 3: Establish the Incident Response Team (IRT)

• • Form a multidisciplinary team including IT, HR, communications, legal, and management.

  • Keep an updated contact list with phone numbers and emails for both primary and backup members.

  • Provide training specific to their incident response duties.

• Why it matters: A well-prepared IRT ensures expertise across technical, legal, and business dimensions of an incident.

Step 4: Classify Incidents by Severity

• • Use a standardized classification system: Critical, High, Medium, Low.

  • Define criteria for each (e.g., critical = widespread breach of sensitive data).

  • Link each severity level to expected response times and reporting requirements.
    
    

• Why it matters: Helps prioritize resources and ensures proportional response without over- or under-reacting.

Step 5: Strengthen Incident Preparation

• • Conduct regular training and awareness programs for all employees.

  • Develop communication templates for informing staff, clients, or authorities.

  • Maintain clear playbooks for common incidents (malware infection, phishing, system outages).

  • Test the IRP annually to uncover weaknesses.
    
    

• Why it matters: Preparation avoids confusion, ensuring swift, coordinated action when incidents occur.

Step 6: Detect Incidents Promptly

• • SOC analysts monitor for suspicious activity, system weaknesses, or breaches.

  • Encourage employees to report anomalies quickly.

  • Use centralized reporting channels, such as company chat groups or incident hotlines.

  • Notify both the IRT and relevant managers immediately.
    
    

• Why it matters: Early detection reduces the scope and cost of damage.

Step 7: Analyze the Incident

• • Perform a root cause analysis to determine what happened, how, and why.

  • Assess the impact and severity (systems affected, data lost, business disruption).

  • Use forensic methods—log analysis, traffic monitoring, interviews.

  • Engage external experts if needed.

  • Report findings to senior management (IRM to CEO).
    
    

• Why it matters: Understanding the incident ensures that containment and eradication efforts target the right issues.

Step 8: Contain the Incident

• Take immediate steps to prevent further damage:

  • Revoke compromised credentials.

  • Block malicious IP addresses or hosts.

  • Disable compromised accounts.

  • Shut down affected systems if necessary.

  • Isolate infected devices or databases.

• Apply restrictions until systems are cleared by the IRT.
  
  

• Why it matters: Containment prevents escalation while analysis and eradication continue.

Step 9: Eradicate and Recover

• • Remove malware, disable compromised accounts, and patch vulnerabilities.

  • Harden affected systems against future attacks.

  • Restore systems and data from secure backups.

  • Ensure normal operations are resumed without lingering threats.

  • Preserve evidence for compliance, legal, or insurance purposes.
    
    

• Why it matters: Successful eradication ensures the threat is removed while recovery ensures business continuity.

Step 10: Conduct Post-Incident Activities

• • Hold an after-action review with the IRT and relevant stakeholders.

  • Document lessons learned, including weaknesses in systems, processes, or employee response.

  • Issue final reports detailing causes, impact, response actions, and improvements.

  • Archive all evidence and incident-related documentation securely.

  • Update policies, training, or tools as necessary.
    
    

• Why it matters: Learning from incidents prevents recurrence and builds a culture of continuous improvement.

Step 11: Report Incidents and Maintain Records

• Maintain an incident tracking system with details such as:

  • Date, type, and severity of the incident

  • Systems affected and individuals notified

  • Actions taken and resolution achieved

• Summarize incidents annually in a report to senior leadership.

• Ensure confidentiality and limit access to authorized individuals only.
  
  

• Why it matters: Documentation supports compliance, audits, and trend analysis.

Step 12: Test and Maintain the IRP

• • Conduct regular tests and simulations to evaluate readiness.

  • Test after major system changes to ensure compatibility.

  • Compare outcomes against objectives, and refine procedures accordingly.

  • Update the IRP annually or when new threats, technologies, or laws arise.

  • Keep personnel lists updated, replacing members who leave the organization.

• Why it matters: Ongoing testing and maintenance ensure the IRP remains effective and aligned with current risks.

Step 13: Integrate Risk Management

• • Conduct bi-annual risk assessments specific to incident response activities.

  • Identify vulnerabilities and update mitigation strategies.

  • Factor in evolving cyber threats, insider risks, and regulatory requirements.
    
    

• Why it matters: Proactive risk management reduces the likelihood and severity of incidents.

Step 14: Maintain Security and Access Controls

• • Use layered security measures: firewalls, intrusion detection, audits.

  • Apply least privilege access for all systems.

  • Maintain audit trails for sensitive data and critical assets.
    
    

• Why it matters: Strong controls reduce incident frequency and limit damage if breaches occur.

Step 15: Ensure Compliance and Awareness

• • Follow regional legal requirements (Australia and New Zealand telecommunications and security acts).

  • Train employees regularly on compliance obligations.

  • Reinforce awareness through ongoing campaigns and reminders.
    
    

• Why it matters: Legal compliance avoids penalties and ensures responsible handling of incidents.

Step 16: Secure Approval and Acknowledgment

• • Obtain board approval for the IRP.

  • Require all employees, contractors, and third parties to acknowledge the plan.

  • Monitor compliance continuously.
    
    

• Why it matters: Formal approval and acknowledgment ensure organization-wide alignment.

Conclusion

The Incident Response Plan is an essential framework that ensures security incidents are handled with speed, accuracy, and accountability. By defining clear roles, preparing the Incident Response Team, classifying and detecting incidents early, and following structured steps for containment, eradication, and recovery, organizations can minimize risks and disruption. Equally important are post-incident reviews, regular testing, and continuous updates, which strengthen long-term resilience.