Incident Notification
Action: Receive notification of a suspected data breach.
Details:
- Acknowledge the incident notification.
- Begin the incident response process promptly.
Example: Upon receiving a notification of a suspected data breach, promptly acknowledge the incident and initiate the incident response process.
Incident Triage
Action: Conduct initial triage.
Details:
- Gather information on the incident nature, affected server, and potential indicators of compromise.
- Formulate an initial understanding of the situation.
Example: During initial triage, gather information about the nature of the incident, the server affected, and any potential indicators of compromise to form a preliminary understanding.
Preservation of Evidence
Action: Isolate the compromised server.
Details:
- Ensure immediate isolation to preserve the server’s state.
- Take steps to maintain the integrity of digital evidence.
Example: Isolate the compromised server immediately to preserve its state, taking measures to maintain the integrity of digital evidence.
Forensic Imaging
Action: Create a bit-by-bit copy of the server’s hard drive.
Details:
- Use forensic imaging tools like FTK Imager or dd.
- Document the acquisition process, including timestamps and imaging details.
Example: Use forensic imaging tools such as FTK Imager to create a bit-by-bit copy of the server’s hard drive, meticulously documenting the acquisition process.
Chain of Custody
Action: Establish and maintain a secure chain of custody.
Details:
- Document every person handling evidence and the purpose of each interaction.
- Ensure the integrity of forensic evidence from acquisition to analysis.
Example: Establish a secure chain of custody by documenting every person handling evidence and their purpose, ensuring the evidence’s integrity throughout.
Timeline Analysis
Action: Reconstruct the timeline of events.
Details:
- Identify the initial compromise, lateral movement, and data exfiltration.
- Analyze logs to understand the sequence of actions leading to the breach.
Example: Reconstruct the timeline of events, identifying the initial compromise, lateral movement, and data exfiltration by analyzing logs for a comprehensive understanding.
File and System Analysis
Action: Examine file artifacts and system logs.
Details:
- Look for signs of malicious activity.
- Search for malware, backdoors, or unauthorized scripts.
Example: Examine file artifacts and system logs for signs of malicious activity, searching for malware, backdoors, or unauthorized scripts.
Network Forensics
Action: Conduct network forensics.
Details:
- Analyze traffic logs to identify communication patterns.
- Determine the extent of lateral movement within the network.
Example: Conduct network forensics by analyzing traffic logs to identify communication patterns and determine the extent of lateral movement within the network.
Collaboration with Incident Response Teams
Action: Collaborate with incident response teams.
Details:
- Share findings to understand the broader context.
- Coordinate efforts to implement containment measures.
Example: Collaborate with incident response teams, sharing findings to understand the broader context and coordinate efforts for effective containment measures.
Threat Intelligence Integration
Action: Integrate threat intelligence.
Details:
- Identify known indicators of compromise (IoCs) associated with the breach.
- Leverage threat intelligence feeds to understand threat actors’ tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs).
Example: Integrate threat intelligence by identifying known IoCs associated with the breach and leveraging feeds to understand threat actors’ TTPs.
Reporting and Documentation
Action: Document the entire forensic analysis process.
Details:
- Document methodologies, findings, and artifacts discovered.
- Prepare a detailed incident report outlining the breach’s scope, impact, and remediation recommendations.
Example: Document the entire forensic analysis process, including methodologies, findings, and artifacts, and prepare a comprehensive incident report outlining the breach’s scope, impact, and remediation recommendations.
Legal and Regulatory Compliance
Action: Ensure legal and regulatory compliance.
Details:
- Collaborate with legal teams to preserve digital evidence admissibility.
- Adhere to legal and regulatory requirements related to data breaches and digital forensics.
Example: Ensure legal and regulatory compliance by collaborating with legal teams to preserve the admissibility of digital evidence and adhering to relevant requirements for data breaches and digital forensics.
Conclusion
A suspected data breach demands a meticulous and comprehensive response. This includes immediate triage, evidence preservation through forensic imaging, rigorous analysis of timelines, files, and networks, collaboration with incident response teams, and integration of threat intelligence. The documentation of the entire process and adherence to legal and regulatory compliance are crucial for a thorough incident response.