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IRO-07: Automated Incident Handling Processes

IRO 1 — Low Respond

Automated mechanisms exist to support the incident handling process.

Renumbered: Formerly IRO-02.1 in SCF 2025.4.

Code reused: In SCF 2025.4 and earlier, IRO-07 was Integrated Security Incident Response Team (ISIRT). That control is now IRO-11.

Control Question: Does the organization use automated mechanisms to support the incident handling process?

General (13)
Framework Mapping Values
CSA IoT SCF 2 IAM-08
GovRAMP IR-04(01)
GovRAMP Core IR-04(01)
GovRAMP Moderate IR-04(01)
GovRAMP High IR-04(01)
NIST 800-53 R4 IR-4(1) SI-4(7)
NIST 800-53 R5.2 IR-04(01) SI-04(07)
NIST 800-53B R5 (moderate) (source) IR-04(01)
NIST 800-53B R5 (high) (source) IR-04(01)
NIST 800-82 R3 IR-04(01) SI-04(07)
NIST 800-82 R3 MODERATE OT Overlay IR-04(01)
NIST 800-82 R3 HIGH OT Overlay IR-04(01)
NIST 800-160 Vol2 R1 SI-04(07)
US (5)
EMEA (1)
Framework Mapping Values
EMEA EU DORA 2023 Article 9.4(b)

Capability Maturity Model

Level 0 — Not Performed

Practices are non-existent, based on the inability to demonstrate an implemented and operational capability. A reasonable person would conclude the control is not being performed.

Level 1 — Performed Informally

SCR-CMM Level 1 criteria definitions are not available for this control: ▪ A reasonable person would conclude this control requires a structured process. ▪ At this level of maturity, the "ad hoc" nature of performing a capability informally would indicate the intent of the control is not met due to a lack of consistency and formality.

Level 2 — Planned & Tracked

SCR-CMM Level 2 criteria definitions are not available for this control: ▪ A reasonable person would conclude a well-defined and standardized process is required. ▪ At this level of maturity, the “requirements-driven” nature of performing the control is focused on a localized and/or regionalized implementation, not uniform and consistent across the organization. ▪ Requirements are narrowly scoped for applicability and are primarily derived from compliance obligations (e.g., laws, regulations and contracts).

Level 3 — Well Defined

Incident Response (IRO) capabilities are standardized across the entity for applicability to People, Processes, Technologies, Data and/or Facilities (PPTDF) to ensure consistency for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). Capability criteria associated with this control reasonably expect the following criteria to exist: ▪ Policies and standards associated with IRO domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity's Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team, or similar function. ▪ Cybersecurity personnel operate an incident response capability using a documented and tested Incident Response Plan (IRP) to facilitate incident management operations that cover preparation, detection and analysis, containment, eradication and recovery. ▪ An incident response team, or similar function, is appropriately staffed and supported to implement and maintain IRO domain capabilities. ▪ Technology is leveraged to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of incident response operations (e.g., incident management software). ▪ The entity's Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team, or similar function, works with business stakeholders and process owners to appropriately scope and reasonably implement cybersecurity and data protection controls associated with IRO domain capabilities to address Minimum Compliance Requirements (MCR) (e.g., applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements) and Discretionary Security Requirements (DSR) (e.g., entity-required controls). ▪ An implemented and operational capability exists to automatically support the incident handling process.

Level 4 — Quantitatively Controlled

Utilize SCR-CMM Level 3 criteria definitions: ▪ There are no defined Level 4 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a quantitatively-controlled process is not necessary to operationalize this control. ▪ While it may be possible to develop “metrics-driven” capabilities for this control, the criteria would be organization-specific to define.

Level 5 — Continuously Improving

Utilize SCR-CMM Level 3 or Level 4 (if available) criteria definitions: ▪ There are no defined Level 5 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a continuously-improving process is not necessary to operationalize this control. ▪ Level 5 capabilities should be considered “world-class” where the control builds on Level 4 capabilities, but are continuously improving through Artificial Intelligence (AI) and/or Machine Learning (ML) technologies. ▪ While it may be possible to develop responsive capabilities for this control through the use of AI and/or ML technologies, the criteria would be organization-specific to define.

Assessment Objectives

  1. IRO-07_A01 anomalous or suspicious behavior is defined.
  2. IRO-07_A02 organizational systems and system components are monitored on an ongoing basis for anomalous or suspicious behavior.
  3. IRO-07_A03 automated mechanisms used to support the incident handling process are defined.
  4. IRO-07_A04 the incident handling process is supported using automated mechanisms.
  5. IRO-07_A05 incident response personnel (identified by name and/or by role) to be notified of detected suspicious events is/are defined.
  6. IRO-07_A06 least-disruptive actions to terminate suspicious events are defined.
  7. IRO-07_A07 incident response personnel are notified of detected suspicious events.
  8. IRO-07_A08 least-disruptive actions are taken upon the detection of suspicious events.

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • Basic incident response plan
  • Designate incident response contact

Small

  • Documented incident response plan
  • Incident log
  • Designated IR team

Medium

  • CimTrak Integrity Suite (https://cimcor.com/cimtrak)

Large

  • CimTrak Integrity Suite (https://cimcor.com/cimtrak)

Enterprise

  • CimTrak Integrity Suite (https://cimcor.com/cimtrak)

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