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The Five Ws (and H) of Incident Response Plan Testing for SLED Agencies
In today’s interconnected world, state local, and education (SLED) organizations face an ever-growing threat landscape. Cyberattacks, natural disasters, and other emergencies can disrupt critical services, compromise sensitive data, and undermine public trust. An effective incident response plan (IRP) is essential for mitigating these risks. However, having a well-documented IRP is not enough; regular testing and validation are equally crucial.
WHO should participate in IRP testing?
IT staff and the incident response teams (representing all departments)
Communications and Human Resources management
Additional staff as needed
WHAT are the different types of IRP Testing?
Tabletop exercises (TTX) and role-playing scenarios, where participants discuss and respond to various types of simulated incidents
Functional exercises that have participants execute specific parts of the IRP, e.g., activating emergency communication systems or isolating compromised systems.
Full-scale drills that involve agencies, responders, and even external partners and test end-to-end processes, from detection to recovery
WHEN should testing be done?
Ideally, every six months, but at least annually, with additional ad hoc exercises as needed, making updates to the IRP based on lessons learned from the testing
WHERE should testing be conducted?
Depends on the type of testing being done, e.g., tabletop exercises can be conducted in a conference room, while functional exercises and full-scale drills should be conducted in the location(s) where actual response would take place
WHY test your IRP?
To identify gaps, weaknesses, ambiguities, and outdated procedures
To reveal weaknesses in communication channels, decision-making processes, and coordination among stakeholders
To ensure personnel are familiar with their roles during a crisis
To validate the effectiveness of training programs and drills
To build confidence, leading to faster, more effective actions during an actual incident
HOW and at what level should different stakeholders be engaged in training?
IT staff and incident response teams — formalized, independent, in-depth, targeted training
Organization leadership — specialized training delivered by an independent third party or administered internally
Communications and Human Resources— training specific to requirements and needs of communicating news regarding an incident and potential impact to personnel and the public
All staff — high-level training on when and how to report suspected attacks
Conclusion
Testing your IRP is not a luxury — it’s a necessity. By identifying weaknesses, ensuring preparedness, and adapting to evolving threats, your organization can enhance its resilience, ensuring it can safeguard its ability to deliver critical services and protect data. Regular testing ensures that when a crisis strikes, your organization’s response will be swift, coordinated, and effective.
Question:
What kind of real-world based scenario (insider threats, ransomware attacks, supply chain disruptions, etc.) would work best to test your organization? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Securance has more than two decades of experience helping SLED organizations combat evolving cyber threats. Contact us to find out more about how we can help your organization.
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