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IRO-14: Root Cause Analysis (RCA) & Lessons Learned

IRO 8 — High Respond

Mechanisms exist to incorporate lessons learned from analyzing and resolving cybersecurity and data protection incidents to reduce the likelihood or impact of future incidents.

Renumbered: Formerly IRO-13 in SCF 2025.4.

Code reused: In SCF 2025.4 and earlier, IRO-14 was Regulatory & Law Enforcement Contacts. That control is now IRO-15.

Control Question: Does the organization incorporate lessons learned from analyzing and resolving cybersecurity and data protection incidents to reduce the likelihood or impact of future incidents?

General (42)
US (21)
EMEA (17)
Framework Mapping Values
EMEA CHE FINMA Circular 2023/1 IV.C-68
EMEA Germany C5 2026 OPS-19.01B.4 OPS-22.08B OPS-22.05AC OPS-23.01B SIM-03.01B SIM-03.02B SIM-03.07B SIM-06.02B SIM-06.02B.1 SIM-06.02B.2 SIM-06.02B.3 SIM-06.03B SIM-06.04B
EMEA Spain CCN-STIC 825 op.exp.7
EMEA EU DORA 2023 Article 13.2 Article 13.2(a) Article 13.2(b) Article 13.2(c) Article 13.2(d) Article 13.3
EMEA EU DORA RTS 2024 Article 22.1(e) Article 41.2(c)(ii)
EMEA EU NIS2 2022 Article 23.4(d)(ii)
EMEA EU NIS2 Annex 2024 3.6.1 3.6.2 3.6.3
EMEA UK CAF 4.0 D2 D2.a D2.b
EMEA UK CAP 1850 2020 D2
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
EMEA LUX CCSF 20/750 2020 3.5.1-60.c
EMEA Saudi Arabia IoT CGIoT-1 2024 2-12-2 2-12-3
EMEA Saudi Arabia OTCC-1 2022 2-12-1-2
EMEA Saudi Arabia SACS-002 2022 VII.B.TPC-89
APAC (11)
Framework Mapping Values
APAC Australia CCM 2026 RES-04
APAC Australia ISM June 2026 ISM-1213
APAC Australia Prudential Standard CPS230 2023 32
APAC Australia SOCI 2028 30CQ
APAC India RBI Digital Payments 2021 38.0
APAC India RBI PA 2025 Annex 1.1.3
APAC India SEBI CSCRF 2024 EV.ST.S3 RC.IM.S1 RS.AN.S3 RS.AN.S4 RS.AN.S4a RS.AN.S4b RS.AN.S5 RS.IM.S1
APAC Japan ISMAP 16.1.6 16.1.6.1 16.1.6.2
APAC Malaysia RMiT 2025 11.13(e) A5-B5(d)
APAC Singapore CCOP CII 2026 7.1.1(i) 7.1.4 7.1.4(a) 7.1.4(b) 7.1.4(c)
APAC Singapore MAS TRM 2021 7.8.1 7.8.2 12.3.2
Americas (4)

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. ▪ Incident responders provide After Action Review (AAR) feedback on what worked, what did not work and ways to improve future responses to similar incidents. ▪ A formal Root Cause Analysis (RCA) is performed that documents the findings in a report for both technical and business leadership management.

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 incorporate lessons learned from analyzing and resolving cybersecurity and data protection incidents to reduce the likelihood or impact of future incidents.

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

  1. IRO-14_A01 an After Action Review (AAR), or a similar lessons learned process, is conducted following incidents that require escalation to an Integrated Security Incident Response Team (ISIRT) or a similar integrated team of cybersecurity, IT and business function representatives.
  2. IRO-14_A02 events that would require the current incident response policy / procedures to be reviewed / updated are defined.
  3. IRO-14_A03 incident response documentation is updated to reflect changes identified from lessons learned during incident analysis and resolution.
  4. IRO-14_A04 events that initiate a review of the incident response training content are defined.

Evidence Requirements

E-IRO-08 Root Cause Analysis (RCA)

Documented evidence of a Root Cause Analysis (RCA) from any Incident Response Plan (IRP)-related training, testing or significant incident.

Incident Response

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • Root Cause Analysis (RCA)

Small

  • Root Cause Analysis (RCA)

Medium

  • Root Cause Analysis (RCA)

Large

  • Root Cause Analysis (RCA)

Enterprise

  • Root Cause Analysis (RCA)

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