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IRO-19.1: Coordination With External Providers

IRO 5 — Medium Respond

Mechanisms exist to establish a direct, cooperative relationship between the organization's incident response capability and external service providers.

Renumbered: Formerly IRO-11.2 in SCF 2025.4.

Control Question: Does the organization establish a direct, cooperative relationship between its incident response capability and external service providers?

General (14)
Framework Mapping Values
AICPA TSC 2017:2022 (used for SOC 2) (source) CC2.2-POF6 CC2.3-POF2 CC2.3-POF12 CC7.4
GovRAMP IR-07(02)
GovRAMP Low+ IR-07(02)
GovRAMP Moderate IR-07(02)
GovRAMP High IR-07(02)
ISO 27002 2022 5.29
ISO 27018 2025 5.29
NIST 800-53 R4 IR-7(2)
NIST 800-53 R5.2 IR-07(02)
NIST 800-82 R3 IR-07(02)
NIST 800-161 R1 IR-7(2)
NIST 800-161 R1 Flow Down IR-7(2)
NIST 800-161 R1 Level 3 IR-7(2)
SCF DPMP 2026 8.2
US (3)
Framework Mapping Values
USA Federal C2M2 2.1 RESPONSE-3j RESPONSE-3k
USA Federal DFARS 252.204-7012 252.204-7012(f) 252.204-7012(g)
USA Federal IRS 1075 2021 IR-7(CE-2).a IR-7(CE-2).b
EMEA (1)
Framework Mapping Values
EMEA Spain CCN-STIC 825 op.cont.1 op.cont.2
APAC (2)
Framework Mapping Values
APAC India RBI Digital Payments 2021 40.0
APAC New Zealand NZISM 3.9 7.3.10.C.01 7.3.11.C.01 7.3.12.C.01

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.

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 establish a direct, cooperative relationship between the organization's incident response capability and external service providers.

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-19.1_A01 a direct, cooperative relationship is established between its incident response capability and external providers of the system protection capability.
  2. IRO-19.1_A02 organizational incident response team members are identified to the external providers.

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

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