Data Center Incident Response Drill and Readiness Checklist

This incident response drill and readiness checklist ensures compliance with NIST SP 800-61 Computer Security Incident Handling Guide, ISO/IEC 27035 Information Security Incident Management, and SOC 2 Type II CC7.3-CC7.5. Designed for CSIRT teams and security managers to verify incident classification procedures, escalation paths, and forensic capabilities.

  • Industry: Telecommunications & IT
  • Frequency: Quarterly
  • Estimated Time: 45-60 minutes
  • Role: CSIRT Manager / Security Operations Manager
  • Total Items: 22
  • Compliance: NIST SP 800-61 Computer Security Incident Handling Guide, ISO/IEC 27035 Information Security Incident Management, SOC 2 Type II CC7.3-CC7.5 Incident Response, CISA Federal IR Playbooks, ENISA Good Practice Guide for Incident Management

IR Plan Currency

Incident response plan documentation and stakeholder alignment.

  • Incident Response Plan updated within 12 months?
  • Specific incident playbooks (ransomware, phishing, etc.) current?
  • CSIRT roles and responsibilities clearly defined?
  • Legal counsel and PR contacts in IR plan?
  • Executive escalation contacts current?

Detection and Analysis Capabilities

Security monitoring and alert triage capabilities.

  • SIEM alert detection tuning current (false positive rate under 5%)?
  • Threat intelligence feeds integrated with SIEM?
  • Log coverage complete for all critical systems?
  • EDR/XDR deployed on all endpoints?
  • 24x7 SOC coverage or managed MSSP in place?

Containment and Eradication Procedures

Incident containment strategy and tooling readiness.

  • Network isolation capability tested for compromised systems?
  • Digital forensic tools available and licensed?
  • Malware sandbox available for analysis?
  • Clean system images available for rapid reimaging?

Notification and Reporting Requirements

Regulatory breach notification and executive reporting.

  • Regulatory notification matrix documented for all applicable laws?
  • Privacy breach coach/outside counsel pre-engaged?
  • Cyber insurance contact and policy number accessible?
  • Executive notification template prepared?

Post-Incident Review

Lessons learned process and IR improvement cycle.

  • Formal post-incident review (PIR) process documented?
  • Lessons learned tracked to completion?
  • MTTD and MTTR metrics tracked and reported?
  • IR Readiness Notes

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Why Use This Data Center Incident Response Drill and Readiness Checklist?

This data center incident response drill and readiness checklist helps telecommunications & it teams maintain compliance and operational excellence. Designed for csirt manager / security operations manager professionals, this checklist covers 22 critical inspection points across 5 sections. Recommended frequency: quarterly.

Ensures compliance with NIST SP 800-61 Computer Security Incident Handling Guide, ISO/IEC 27035 Information Security Incident Management, SOC 2 Type II CC7.3-CC7.5 Incident Response, CISA Federal IR Playbooks, ENISA Good Practice Guide for Incident Management. Regulatory-aligned for audit readiness and inspection documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Data Center Incident Response Drill and Readiness Checklist cover?

This checklist covers 22 inspection items across 5 sections: IR Plan Currency, Detection and Analysis Capabilities, Containment and Eradication Procedures, Notification and Reporting Requirements, Post-Incident Review. It is designed for telecommunications & it operations and compliance.

How often should this checklist be completed?

This checklist should be completed quarterly. Each completion takes approximately 45-60 minutes.

Who should use this Data Center Incident Response Drill and Readiness Checklist?

This checklist is designed for CSIRT Manager / Security Operations Manager professionals in the telecommunications & it industry. It can be used for self-assessments, team audits, and regulatory compliance documentation.

Can I download this checklist as a PDF?

Yes, this checklist is available as a free PDF download. You can also use it digitally in the POPProbe mobile app for real-time data capture, photo documentation, and automatic reporting.

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