The Department of Defense (DoD) is in the process of implementing the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) to improve the cybersecurity posture of DoD contractors. One important part of meeting CMMC requirements is having an effective incident response plan.
As these CMMC updates roll out, it may be in an organization’s interest to invest in CMMC consulting. The Department of Defense (DoD) recommends incident response testing because it is the only way to ensure that your plan will work in an actual emergency.
By simulating different types of incidents, you can identify any weaknesses in your plan and correct them before they become a problem. Additionally, testing helps to build team cohesion and lets you practice your procedures so that everyone is familiar with them.
What is an Incident Response Plan?
A well structured incident response plan ensures that your organization is prepared to handle a cybersecurity incident in a timely and effective manner. A CMMC consultant can create plans that include procedures to identify and respond to incidents, as well as protocol to restore normal operations after an incident. Your incident response plan should be tested regularly to ensure it is current and effective.
The Committee on National Security Systems (CNSS) has issued guidance requiring that all federal agencies have an incident response plan in place. The CMMC is modeled after the CNSSI 1253, which requires all federal agencies to have an incident response plan in place. The CMMC builds on this by specifying the controls that must be included in an incident response plan in order to protect C3 and other critical infrastructure.
How To Implement a CMMC Incident Response Plan
Incident response plans are typically developed in a step-by-step fashion. The steps in this process typically include the following:
Determine The Total Business Impact of the Incident
The first step is to determine the impact of the incident on the business. A CMMC consult can help by assessing the damage the incident has caused, as well as the effects it may have in the future.
Once the impact is understood, the next step is to identify which systems or data have been affected. It is important here to ensure that all of the affected departments and systems are accounted for in order to properly design the testing that will eventually be developed.
Create a Plan of Action
After that, it’s important to create a plan for containing and mitigating the incident. A CMMC consultant may include isolating infected systems, removing malicious files, or restoring lost data. A plan of action in an incident response plan is a guide that helps responders know what to do when an incident occurs.
The plan should include the steps to contain the incident, preserve evidence, and mitigate damage while specifying who will be responsible for each action, and include the resources that will be required.
Documentation
The next step is to document all of your actions so that you can provide a clear report to management and other stakeholders. CMMC consultants may document the steps in the process, and also the results of each test, can help you consistently improve the process with each pass.
It will also enable transparency for all of the teams involved, making it easier to communicate during emergencies and to align an agreed-upon response plan.
Testing
Finally, you should test your plan to ensure that it will be effective in case of an actual incident. Testing an incident response plan is an important step in making sure that it will be effective when needed. There are a few different ways a CMMC consultant may test an incident response plan: by simulating an incident, using a mock organization and conducting tabletop exercises.
Simulating an incident is the best way to test how well your plan will actually work. You can do this by creating a scenario that mirrors what could happen in an actual situation and then testing how your team responds. This type of testing allows you to find and correct any problems with your plan before they become a reality.
Mock organizations can also be used to test an incident response plan. A mock organization is a fake company or organization that is created for the sole purpose of testing a plan. This type of testing can be helpful in identifying how well your team would respond to an incident that affects a real organization.
Tabletop exercises are another way to test an incident response plan. They involve bringing together all of the people who would be involved in response to an incident. The goal of this type of exercise is to walk through the steps of responding to an incident and identify any potential problems.
Develop a Rigorous and Effective CMMC Incident Response Plan with SeaGlass Technology
As you can see, creating an incident response plan is a crucial part of the CMMC process and can help to ensure that your cybersecurity protocols are up to the latest standards. All incident testing is not the same, however, and your testing process should mirror the unique needs of your organization.
When it comes to developing and testing your CMMC incident response plan, you may want to consider consulting with a team of experts. At SeaGlass Technology, our team can help you create a rigorous and effective plan that meets all of the latest standards. Additionally, we can help you test your plan and make sure that it is ready for use in the event of an actual incident.
For more information, contact our team of experts today at 212-886-0790.