Designate Personnel to Manage Incident Handling
Description
Designate one key person, and at least one backup, who will manage the enterprise’s incident handling process. Management personnel are responsible for the coordination and documentation of incident response and recovery efforts and can consist of employees internal to the enterprise, third-party vendors, or a hybrid approach. If using a third-party vendor, designate at least one person internal to the enterprise to oversee any third-party work. Review annually, or when significant enterprise changes occur that could impact this Safeguard.
Implementation Checklist
Tool Recommendations
Security orchestration, automation, and response platform with playbook automation and case management
Palo Alto Networks · Enterprise subscription
Security orchestration and automated response platform with playbooks, case management, and 350+ integrations
Cisco (Splunk) · Event-based subscription
Security incident response and vulnerability response with orchestration, workflow automation, and CMDB integration
ServiceNow · Enterprise subscription
Threats & Vulnerabilities (CIS RAM)
Threat Scenarios
Uncoordinated Incident Response Leads to Extended Breach
ConfidentialityA security incident escalates because no designated personnel exist to coordinate the response, resulting in ad hoc decision-making, duplicated efforts, and extended attacker dwell time.
Key Person Unavailability During Critical Incident
AvailabilityThe only person with incident handling knowledge is unreachable during a ransomware attack, and no backup is designated, leaving the organization paralyzed during the critical early hours of the incident.
Vulnerabilities (When Safeguard Absent)
No Designated Incident Management Personnel
Without a designated incident handler and backup, there is no clear ownership of incident coordination, leading to confusion, delayed response, and lack of accountability during security events.
No Oversight of Third-Party Incident Response Vendors
If incident response is outsourced without an internal designee to oversee the work, the organization loses control over response priorities, evidence handling, and communication during incidents.
Evidence Requirements
| Type | Evidence Item | Collection Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Document | Response procedure/playbook documentation | Reviewed bi-annually |
| Record | Response action logs showing procedure execution | Per incident |
| Technical | Backup job status reports and success rates | Reviewed weekly |
| Record | Backup restoration test results | Tested quarterly |
| Document | Incident response plan and playbooks | Reviewed bi-annually |
| Record | Incident reports and post-incident review documentation | Per incident |
| Record | Third-party risk assessment reports and scorecards | Annually per vendor |
| Document | Vendor contracts with security requirements | Per contract cycle |
| Document | Governing policy document (current, approved, communicated) | Reviewed annually |