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Security Incident Management Process Policy#

Introduction#

This Security Incident Management Process Policy ("Policy") outlines MeritBoost's approach to identifying, responding to, and managing security incidents that may affect our services, infrastructure, or data. This Policy establishes a structured framework for incident detection, classification, response, and recovery to minimize the impact of security incidents and ensure business continuity.

Scope#

This Policy applies to all MeritBoost services, applications, and infrastructure, including:

  • MeritBoost web applications and APIs
  • Mobile applications
  • Backend infrastructure
  • Any other software or services provided by MeritBoost
  • All employees, contractors, and third parties with access to MeritBoost systems

Definitions#

  • Security Incident: Any event that threatens the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of MeritBoost's systems, networks, data, or services.
  • Security Event: An observable occurrence in a system or network that may indicate a potential security incident.
  • Incident Response Team (IRT): The designated team responsible for managing and coordinating the response to security incidents.
  • Incident Commander: The person responsible for leading the incident response effort and coordinating all response activities.

Incident Classification#

Security incidents are classified based on severity to determine the appropriate response level:

  1. Critical: Incidents that cause or have the potential to cause significant harm to MeritBoost's operations, reputation, or customers. Examples include data breaches involving personal data, widespread system compromise, or incidents affecting critical services.

  2. High: Incidents that have a substantial impact on MeritBoost's operations or customers but are contained to specific systems or limited data. Examples include targeted attacks, localized service disruptions, or unauthorized access to non-critical systems.

  3. Medium: Incidents with limited impact on operations or data. Examples include isolated malware infections, suspicious activities that don't result in a breach, or minor policy violations.

  4. Low: Minor events that require monitoring but pose minimal risk. Examples include failed login attempts, port scans, or other common security events that don't indicate a successful attack.

Incident Response Phases#

1. Preparation#

  • Maintain an up-to-date incident response plan
  • Conduct regular security training for all staff
  • Implement and maintain security monitoring tools
  • Establish clear roles and responsibilities for incident response
  • Conduct regular incident response drills and tabletop exercises

2. Detection and Reporting#

  • Monitor systems and networks for security events
  • Establish multiple channels for incident reporting, including:
  • Email: security@cyberfinity.io
  • Internal ticketing system
  • Automated alerts from security tools
  • Document all potential security incidents
  • Notify the Incident Response Team of potential incidents

3. Assessment and Triage#

  • Verify if the reported event is a security incident
  • Classify the incident based on severity
  • Assign an Incident Commander
  • Determine the initial response team composition
  • Establish communication channels for incident coordination

4. Containment#

  • Implement immediate actions to limit the impact of the incident
  • Isolate affected systems when necessary
  • Preserve evidence for later analysis
  • Document all containment actions taken

5. Eradication#

  • Identify and eliminate the root cause of the incident
  • Remove malware, unauthorized access, or other security threats
  • Patch vulnerabilities that were exploited
  • Verify that all threat components have been removed

6. Recovery#

  • Restore affected systems to normal operation
  • Implement additional security controls as needed
  • Verify system integrity before returning to production
  • Monitor recovered systems for any signs of persistent threats

7. Post-Incident Analysis#

  • Conduct a thorough review of the incident
  • Document lessons learned
  • Update security controls and incident response procedures based on findings
  • Prepare a post-incident report

Roles and Responsibilities#

Incident Response Team (IRT)#

  • Incident Commander: Coordinates the overall incident response effort
  • Technical Lead: Directs technical investigation and remediation
  • Communications Lead: Manages internal and external communications
  • Legal Counsel: Provides guidance on legal and compliance issues
  • Executive Sponsor: Provides executive oversight and resource allocation

All Employees#

  • Report suspected security incidents immediately
  • Follow security policies and procedures
  • Cooperate with the Incident Response Team during investigations
  • Participate in security awareness training

Communication Plan#

Internal Communication#

  • Establish a secure communication channel for incident response coordination
  • Provide regular updates to management and affected teams
  • Document all communications related to the incident

External Communication#

  • Designate authorized spokespersons for external communications
  • Coordinate with Legal and PR teams before releasing any information
  • Notify affected customers in accordance with contractual obligations and applicable laws
  • Communicate with regulatory authorities as required by law

Notification Requirements#

MeritBoost will notify affected parties of security incidents in accordance with:

  1. Contractual obligations
  2. Applicable laws and regulations, including GDPR and other data protection laws
  3. Industry best practices

Notifications will include:

  • Description of the incident
  • Types of data affected
  • Steps taken to mitigate the impact
  • Measures to prevent similar incidents
  • Contact information for additional questions

Documentation and Evidence Handling#

  • Maintain detailed records of all incident response activities
  • Preserve evidence in a forensically sound manner
  • Document the chain of custody for all evidence
  • Store incident documentation securely

Testing and Continuous Improvement#

  • Conduct regular incident response exercises
  • Review and update this Policy at least annually
  • Incorporate lessons learned from actual incidents
  • Perform post-incident reviews to identify areas for improvement

Compliance#

Failure to comply with this Policy may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment or contract.

Changes to this Policy#

MeritBoost may update this Policy from time to time. We will notify customers of any changes by posting the new Policy on our website and, if the changes are significant, we will provide a more prominent notice.

Contact Information#

If you have any questions about this Policy or need to report a security incident, please contact us at contact@cyberfinity.io.