A Security Response Plan (SRP) provides the impetus for security and business teams to integrate their efforts from the perspective of awareness and communication and coordinated response in times of crisis (security vulnerability identified or exploited). Specifically, an SRP defines a product description, contact information, escalation paths, expected service level agreements (SLA), severity and impact classification, and mitigation/remediation timelines. By requiring business units to incorporate an SRP as part of their business continuity operations and as new products or services are developed and prepared for release to consumers ensures that when an incident occurs, swift mitigation and remediation ensues.
The purpose of this policy is to establish the requirement that all business units supported by the Infosec team develop and maintain a security response plan. This ensures that the security incident management team has all the necessary information to formulate a successful response should a specific security incident occur.
This policy applies any established and defined business unity or entity within the eCuras.
The development, implementation, and execution of a Security Response Plan (SRP) are the primary responsibility of the specific business unit for whom the SRP is being developed in cooperation with the Infosec Team. Business units are expected to properly facilitate the SRP for applicable to the service or products they are held accountable for. The business unit security coordinator or champion is further expected to work with the eCuras LLC in the development and maintenance of a Security Response Plan.
4.1 Service or Product Description
The product description in an SRP must clearly define the service or application to be deployed with additional attention to data flows, logical diagrams, architecture considered highly useful.
4.2 Contact Information
The SRP must include contact information for dedicated team members to be available during non-business hours should an incident occur and escalation is required. This may be a 24/7 requirement depending on the defined business value of the service or product, coupled with the impact on the customer. The SRP document must include all phone numbers and email addresses for the dedicated team member(s).
4.3 Triage
The SRP must define triage steps to be coordinated with the security incident management team cooperatively with the intended goal of swift security vulnerability mitigation. This step typically includes validating the reported vulnerability or compromise.
4.4 Identified Mitigations and Testing
The SRP must include a defined process for identifying and testing mitigations before deployment. These details should consist of both short-term mitigations as well as the remediation process.
4.5 Mitigation and Remediation Timelines
The SRP must include response levels to identify vulnerabilities that define the expected timelines for repair based on severity and impact on consumers, brands, and companies. These response guidelines should be carefully mapped to the level of severity determined for the reported vulnerability.
5.1 Compliance Measurement
Each business unit must demonstrate they have a written SRP in place and that it is under version control and is available via the web. The policy should be reviewed annually.
5.2 Exceptions
Any exception to this policy must be approved by the Infosec Team in advance and have a written record.
5.3 Non-Compliance
Any business unit found to have violated (no SRP developed before service or product deployment) this policy may be subject to delays in service or product release until such a time as the SRP is developed and approved. Responsible parties may be subject to disciplinary action, including termination of employment, should a security incident occur in the absence of an SRP.
Revised: March 14th, 2018