IRO-08.1: Incident Response Plan (IRP) Update
Mechanisms exist to regularly review and modify incident response practices to incorporate lessons learned, business process changes and industry developments, as necessary.
Renumbered: Formerly IRO-04.2 in SCF 2025.4.
Control Question: Does the organization regularly review and modify incident response practices to incorporate lessons learned, business process changes and industry developments, as necessary?
General (31)
US (16)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| USA Federal CMS MARS-E 2.0 | IR-1 IR-4.h |
| USA Federal CISA CPG 2022 | 2.S |
| USA Federal C2M2 2.1 | RESPONSE-3h |
| USA Federal CJIS Security Policy 6.0 | IR-1 IR-4 |
| USA Federal FedRAMP R5 (low) | IR-01 IR-04 |
| USA Federal FedRAMP R5 (moderate) | IR-01 IR-04 |
| USA Federal FedRAMP R5 (high) | IR-01 IR-04 |
| USA Federal FedRAMP R5 (LI-SaaS) | IR-01 IR-04 |
| USA Federal IRS 1075 2021 | IR-1 |
| USA Federal GLBA CFR 314 2023 | 314.4(h)(7) |
| USA Federal NERC CIP 2024 | CIP-008-6 3.1.2 CIP-008-6 3.1.3 CIP-008-6 3.2.1 CIP-008-6 3.2.2 |
| USA Federal FCA CRM 2023 | 609.930(c)(3) |
| USA New York DFS 23 NYCRR500 2023 Amd 2 | 500.16(a)(1)(ix) |
| USA Texas DIR SCSC 2.2 2025 | IR-01 IR-01-SID IR-04 |
| USA Texas TX-RAMP Level 1 | IR-01 IR-04 |
| USA Texas TX-RAMP Level 2 | IR-01 IR-04 |
EMEA (4)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| EMEA UK DEFSTAN 05-138 2024 | 4200 |
| EMEA UK DEFSTAN 05-138 - L1 2024 | 4200 |
| EMEA UK DEFSTAN 05-138 - L2 2024 | 4200 |
| EMEA UK DEFSTAN 05-138 - L3 2024 | 4200 |
APAC (3)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| APAC Australia SOCI 2028 | 30CF 30CG |
| APAC India SEBI CSCRF 2024 | EV.ST.S3 RS.IM.S1 RS.IM.S2 |
| APAC Singapore CCOP CII 2026 | 7.1.6 7.1.7 |
Americas (2)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| Americas Canada ITSP-10-171 2025 | 03.06.05.C |
| Americas Canada OSFI B-13 2022 | 2.7.3 |
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
Incident Response (IRO) capabilities are requirements-driven, but are not standardized across the entity (e.g., local/regional level consistency). 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. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with DCH domain capabilities are documented and maintained by process owners. ▪ IT and/or cybersecurity personnel work with business stakeholders and process owners to appropriately scope and reasonably implement cybersecurity and data protection controls associated with IRO domain capabilities to address applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). ▪ Incident response-related controls are primarily administrative and preventative in nature (e.g., policies, standards and procedures & guidelines). ▪ Incident response management may be a defined function (e.g., team or department) or assigned as an additional duty to existing IT and/or cybersecurity personnel. ▪ IT and/or 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. ▪ On at least an annual basis, IT and/or cybersecurity personnel update incident response strategies to keep current with business needs, technology changes and regulatory requirements.
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 regularly review and modify incident response practices to incorporate lessons learned, business process changes and industry developments, as necessary.
Level 4 — Quantitatively Controlled
Incident Response (IRO) capabilities, in addition to being standardized across the entity and centrally managed to ensure consistency across Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD), efforts are metrics driven to provide sufficient insight for decision makers to predict optimal performance, ensure continued operations and/or identify areas for improvement. Capability criteria associated with this control reasonably expect the following criteria to exist: ▪ Applicable SCR-CMM Level 3 (Well Defined) capabilities are implemented and operational. ▪ Metrics reporting includes quantitative analysis of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). ▪ Metrics reporting includes quantitative analysis of Key Risk Indicators (KRIs). ▪ Scope of metrics, KPIs and KRIs covers organization-wide cybersecurity and data protection controls, including functions performed by third-parties. ▪ Organizational leadership maintains a formal process to objectively review and respond to metrics, KPIs and KRIs (e.g., monthly or quarterly review). ▪ Based on metrics analysis, process improvement recommendations are submitted for review and are handled in accordance with change control processes. ▪ Business and technical stakeholders are involved in reviewing and approving proposed changes to evolve capabilities.
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
- IRO-08.1_A01 an official to manage the incident response policy / procedures is defined.
- IRO-08.1_A02 the frequency at which the current incident response policy / procedures is reviewed / updated is defined.
- IRO-08.1_A03 events that would require the current incident response policy / procedures to be reviewed / updated are defined.
- IRO-08.1_A04 the current incident response policy / procedures are reviewed / updated organization-defined frequency.
- IRO-08.1_A05 the current incident response policy / procedures are reviewed / updated following organization-defined events.
- IRO-08.1_A06 the incident response plan is updated to address system and organizational changes or problems encountered during plan implementation, execution, or testing.
- IRO-08.1_A07 personnel or roles to whom the incident response policy / procedures is to be disseminated are defined.
- IRO-08.1_A08 an incident response policy is developed and documented.
- IRO-08.1_A09 the incident response policy is disseminated to organization-defined personnel or roles.
- IRO-08.1_A10 incident response procedures to facilitate the implementation of the incident response policy and associated incident response controls are developed and documented.
- IRO-08.1_A11 the incident response procedures are disseminated to organization-defined personnel or roles.
- IRO-08.1_A12 the organization's incident response policy addresses purpose.
- IRO-08.1_A13 the organization's incident response policy addresses scope.
- IRO-08.1_A14 the organization's incident response policy addresses roles.
- IRO-08.1_A15 the organization's incident response policy addresses responsibilities.
- IRO-08.1_A16 the organization's incident response policy addresses management commitment.
- IRO-08.1_A17 the organization's incident response policy addresses coordination among organizational entities.
- IRO-08.1_A18 the organization's incident response policy addresses compliance.
- IRO-08.1_A19 the organization's incident response policy is consistent with applicable laws, Executive Orders, directives, regulations, policies, standards, and guidelines.
- IRO-08.1_A20 the organization-defined official is designated to manage the development, documentation, and dissemination of the incident response policy and procedures.
Evidence Requirements
- E-IRO-07 IRP Updates
-
Documented evidence of a periodic review process for the organization's Incident Response Plan (IRP) to identify necessary updates.
Incident Response
Technology Recommendations
Micro/Small
- Basic incident response plan
- Designate incident response contact
Small
- Documented incident response plan
- Incident log
- Designated IR team
Medium
- Formal incident response program
- IR playbooks
- Tabletop exercises
Large
- Enterprise incident response program
- 24/7 SOC monitoring
- SOAR platform
Enterprise
- Enterprise SOC with SIEM/SOAR (e.g., Splunk SOAR, Palo Alto XSOAR)
- IR retainer
- Threat hunting