Incident Response Benchmark for FedRAMP Low Revision 4

The Incident Response (IR) benchmark for the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) Low Revision 4 aims to provide guidelines and procedures for effectively responding to and mitigating cybersecurity incidents within the FedRAMP Low environment. This benchmark is crucial for ensuring that organizations implementing FedRAMP Low Revision 4 have a robust incident response capability in place.

The benchmark outlines the primary objectives of incident response within the FedRAMP Low environment. It stresses the importance of promptly detecting, analyzing, and responding to incidents to minimize their impact, restore normal operations quickly, prevent incident recurrence, preserve evidence, and communicate effectively with stakeholders.

Detailed guidelines are provided for incident response planning, including essential components such as an incident response team, incident categorization, roles and responsibilities, communication processes, and incident reporting requirements. Regular review and updates of the incident response plan are emphasized to maintain its effectiveness.

The benchmark discusses the significance of conducting incident response exercises and simulations. Organizations are encouraged to test their incident response capabilities through tabletop exercises, scenario-based drills, and other simulations to identify weaknesses, validate the IR plan, and enhance overall incident response readiness.

Fundamental technical controls and requirements for incident response are outlined, focusing on continuous monitoring, event detection, and timely incident reporting. Guidance is provided on the selection and deployment of appropriate technical controls like intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDPS), security information, event management (SIEM) tools, and network monitoring technologies.

The benchmark underlines the importance of personnel training and awareness to enhance incident response skills. Organizations should invest in training programs for incident detection, evidence preservation, containment and eradication, and the proper handling of information during incidents.

Robust documentation and information sharing are emphasized to support incident response activities. Guidelines for incident documentation, tracking, reporting, and sharing information with relevant stakeholders, including incident response teams, management, legal counsel, and regulatory agencies, are provided.

Guidance is given on post-incident activities like incident analysis and lessons learned to prevent similar incidents in the future. Thorough post-incident analysis, identifying root causes, implementing corrective actions, documenting lessons learned, and sharing them across the organization are encouraged to enhance incident response capabilities collectively.

In conclusion, the FedRAMP Low Revision 4 Incident Response benchmark offers comprehensive guidelines and procedures for organizations to establish and maintain an effective incident response capability in the FedRAMP Low environment. Adhering to this benchmark ensures prompt detection, response, and mitigation of cybersecurity incidents, enhancing the overall security and resilience of information systems.