The agency should develop a Business Continuity Plan (BCP), specifically focusing on incident response and disaster recovery. This plan should include:
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Incident Response Procedures: Clear steps outlining how to respond to various types of security incidents and unscheduled downtimes.
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Roles and Responsibilities: A designated incident response team with listed roles, including a project lead, IT support, communications, and recovery operations.
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Contact Lists:
- Internal contacts: Team members, management, and critical personnel.
- External contacts: Vendors, cybersecurity experts, law enforcement, and regulatory bodies.
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Communication Plan: Strategies for internal and external communication during an incident, including escalation paths and notification procedures.
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Resource Inventory: A list of tools, systems, and resources available for incident response including hardware, software, and backup systems.
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Risk Assessment: An analysis of potential threats and vulnerabilities to the agency’s systems and operations.
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Response Protocols: Detailed instructions on how to handle specific incidents such as data breaches, system failures, or natural disasters.
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Data Recovery Procedures: Steps for recovering data and restoring systems to operational status, including backup processes and testing.
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Training and Awareness Programs: Plans for regular training of staff on the BCP, including drills and simulation exercises.
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Review and Update Schedule: A timetable for regularly reviewing and updating the plan to ensure its effectiveness as the agency and threat landscape evolves.
By developing and maintaining a comprehensive BCP, the agency can enhance its preparedness for potential security incidents and downtime, ensuring a swift and efficient response to minimize impact.