Blog Article | AWG Consultancy

When a data breach occurs, every minute counts. A well-prepared response plan can mean the difference between a managed incident and a catastrophic failure. Here's how to build one.

Why Preparation Matters

Under GDPR, you have 72 hours to notify the ICO of a reportable breach. Under pressure, organisations without a plan waste precious time determining who should do what. A documented, tested plan enables swift, effective response.

Key Components of a Response Plan

Incident Response Team: Define who is responsible for managing breaches. Include representatives from IT, legal, communications, HR, and senior management. Document contact details and escalation procedures.

Classification Framework: Not all incidents require the same response. Develop criteria for classifying incidents by severity and determining appropriate responses for each level.

Response Procedures: Document step-by-step procedures for containment, investigation, notification, and recovery. Include templates for regulatory notifications and affected individual communications.

The Response Lifecycle

1. Detection and Reporting: Establish channels for reporting suspected incidents. Train staff to recognise and escalate potential breaches quickly.

2. Assessment: Determine what happened, what data was affected, and who might be impacted. Document your findings and evidence.

3. Containment: Take immediate action to limit damage. This might include isolating systems, revoking access, or blocking attack vectors.

4. Notification: Determine if regulatory notification is required. Prepare communications for affected individuals. Consider media and customer communications.

5. Recovery: Restore affected systems and data. Implement additional controls to prevent recurrence.

6. Lessons Learned: Conduct a post-incident review. Update policies, procedures, and controls based on findings.

Testing Your Plan

A plan is only useful if it works under pressure. Conduct regular tabletop exercises to test your response capabilities. Update the plan based on exercise findings and changes to your organisation.