Build and maintain an incident handler communications plan with contact information, incident reporting mechanisms, an issue tracking system, a war room, and encryption software for communications.

Understand attack vectors such as malware in email, malicious websites, impersonation, removable media, brute force, and unusual activity, and use alerting tools including IDPSs, SIEMs, antivirus and antispam, and logs. For analysis, this should include network system profiling, understanding normal behaviors, creating log retention policies, and performing event correlation.

Identify attackers by validating host IP addresses, using incident databases, monitoring attackers’ communications channels, and researching through search engines. The response team should conduct eradication and recovery in a phased approach based on prioritization.

Determine how the organization may have avoided an attack by posing questions including: What happened? When? and What steps did the response team take that may have impeded recovery?

Cloud environments present unique challenges for incident response due to their distributed nature and shared responsibility model. A cloud-specific template addresses issues like multi-tenant security, API-based threats, and the complexities of investigating incidents across ephemeral infrastructure. These templates incorporate cloud-native tools for monitoring and forensics, define procedures for coordinating with cloud service providers, and establish protocols for preserving evidence in dynamic environments where resources can be automatically scaled or terminated.

Traditional computer security incident response templates focus on endpoint protection and network security within on-premises infrastructure. These templates provide comprehensive procedures for handling malware infections, unauthorized access attempts, and data breaches affecting workstations and servers. They include detailed steps for isolating affected systems, collecting forensic evidence from hard drives and memory, and restoring operations while maintaining chain of custody for potential legal proceedings.

Templates designed for cybersecurity managers emphasize strategic coordination and communication across multiple teams and stakeholders. These frameworks include escalation matrices for engaging executive leadership, templates for regulatory notifications, and procedures for managing public relations during high-profile incidents. They provide guidance on resource allocation, vendor management, and post-incident reporting to boards and regulatory bodies, ensuring managers can effectively orchestrate complex response efforts.

Healthcare incident response templates address the unique challenges of protecting patient data while maintaining critical care systems. These templates incorporate HIPAA breach notification requirements, procedures for handling ransomware attacks on medical devices, and protocols for maintaining patient care during system outages. They include specific guidance for working with electronic health record vendors, coordinating with regional health information exchanges, and managing incidents that could impact patient safety.

The California Department of Technology template provides a comprehensive framework designed for state agencies managing critical public services. This template emphasizes inter-agency coordination, public transparency requirements, and procedures for protecting citizen data. It includes specific protocols for coordinating with state emergency management offices, handling incidents affecting multiple departments, and maintaining continuity of government services during cyber attacks.

NIH's template addresses the unique requirements of protecting sensitive research data and maintaining the integrity of scientific computing resources. The framework includes procedures for handling incidents affecting clinical trials, protecting intellectual property, and coordinating responses across multiple research institutes. It provides specific guidance for incidents involving controlled unclassified information, human subjects data, and high-performance computing clusters used for genomic research.

Academic institutions face distinct challenges balancing open research environments with security requirements. UConn's template addresses incidents affecting diverse user populations including students, faculty, and researchers. It includes procedures for handling incidents during critical academic periods, protecting student records under FERPA, and coordinating responses across decentralized IT departments while maintaining academic freedom and research collaboration.