How do you test your network incident response plan?

1 Define your objectives

Before you start your test, you need to define what you want to achieve and measure. For example, you may want to test your team's ability to identify the source and scope of an attack, communicate and escalate issues, follow standard protocols, and restore normal operations. You also need to decide on the metrics and criteria that will indicate the success or failure of your test, such as time, accuracy, compliance, and feedback.

2 Choose your scenario

Next, you need to choose a realistic and relevant scenario that will challenge your team and your plan. You can base your scenario on common or emerging threats, such as ransomware, denial-of-service, or data breach, or on specific vulnerabilities or risks that affect your network. You should also consider the level of complexity and difficulty of your scenario, depending on your team's experience and readiness.

3 Prepare your resources

To conduct your test, you need to prepare the resources and tools that will support your scenario and your evaluation. For example, you may need to create a test environment that replicates your network, or use a sandbox or a virtual machine to isolate the test from your production network. You also need to have the necessary tools and software to simulate the attack, monitor the network activity, and collect the data and evidence.

4 Execute your test

When you are ready to execute your test, you need to follow a clear and structured process that ensures the safety and validity of your test. You should start by informing your team and any other stakeholders about the test, its objectives, and its rules. You should also assign roles and responsibilities to your team members, such as incident manager, analyst, or responder. Then, you should launch the attack and observe how your team responds, according to your plan and protocols. You should also document the actions and outcomes of your test, using tools such as logs, screenshots, or reports.

5 Evaluate your test

After you complete your test, you need to evaluate the results and the performance of your team and your plan. You should compare the actual outcomes with the expected outcomes, using the metrics and criteria that you defined earlier. You should also gather feedback from your team and any other observers, using methods such as surveys, interviews, or debriefings. You should identify the strengths and weaknesses of your team and your plan, as well as the lessons learned and the best practices.

6 Improve your plan

Finally, you need to use the findings and feedback from your test to improve your plan and your readiness for future incidents. You should update your plan with any changes or recommendations that emerged from your test, such as new procedures, policies, or tools. You should also train your team on the new or revised aspects of your plan, and provide them with the necessary resources and support. You should also schedule your next test, and repeat the cycle of testing and improvement regularly.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?