A Primer on Cybersecurity Playbooks: Everything You Need to Know (As a New Analyst)
[Cybersecurity Tradecraft #4]
What is a Playbook?
A manual that details any operational action: essentially, a playbook provides a list of steps to perform when an incident occurs.
Playbooks are accompanied by strategies that outline the expectations of team members assigned to a task. These outlined expectations should be paired with a plan that dictates how the outlined tasks in the playbook should be completed.
They also clarify what tools should be used in response to a security incident. Playbooks ensure that people follow a consistent list of actions in a prescribed way regardless of who is working on the case.
There are different types of playbooks used. There are playbooks for security alerts, incident responses, chain of custody for digital forensic evidence, and others. Some are team-specific, others are product-specific
What are playbooks commonly used for?
Playbooks are commonly used for open attacks, privacy incidents, data leaks, denial-of-service attacks, service, and other events.
Incident and vulnerability playbooks are developed based on the goals outlined in an organization's business continuity plan, which ensures the business can recover and continue operating normally after a disruption like a security breach.
Incident Response
An organization's quick attempt to identify an attack, contain the damage and correct the effects of a security breach.
This playbook contains 6 phases to manage security incidents from beginning to end.
The Six Phases of an Incident Response Playbook
The incident response playbook outlines six phases to help organizations mitigate and manage security incidents effectively. Let's break down each phase:
Step 1: Preparation. Preparation aims to minimize the likelihood, risk, and impact of a security incident. You will document procedures, establish staffing plans, educate users, and create incident response plans and procedures.
Step 2: Detection and Analysis. The goal of detection and analysis is to detect potential security breaches using defined processes and technology and determine the magnitude of a breach if one is detected.
Step 3: Containment. The goal of containment is to prevent further damage and reduce the immediate impact of the incident. During containment, the analyst will take action to contain the incident and minimize damage. This is a high priority to prevent ongoing risk to critical assets and data.
Step 4: Eradication and Recovery. The goal is to completely remove incident artifacts, such as malicious code and mitigating vulnerabilities, and return to normal operations. The affected environment would then be restored to a secure state.
Step 5: Post-Incident Activity. This step aims to document the incident, inform leadership, and apply lessons learned. The analyst would then, if necessary, conduct a full-scale incident analysis and implement updates or improvements to enhance the security posture.
Step 6: Coordination. Coordination aims to report incidents and share information throughout the response process. The analyst would meet all requisite compliance standards and enable a coordinated response and resolution.
Playbook Updates
Playbooks are considered living documents, meaning they are frequently updated to address industry changes and new threats. Updates are typically made in the following situations:
Failure identified. This could be an oversight in the outlined policies and procedures, or in the playbook itself.
Change in industry standards. This includes changes in laws, regulations, or compliance requirements.
Shifting cybersecurity landscape. Evolving threat actor tactics and techniques necessitate updates to playbooks.
Playbooks as Living Documents
Playbooks are considered "living documents" because they require regular updates to remain effective in the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape. Here are the key reasons why:
Playbooks must be adapted as the industry changes. New laws and regulations can impact how organizations respond to security incidents. Playbooks need to be updated to reflect these changes and ensure compliance. Standards and best practices evolve. Playbooks should be updated to incorporate these changes and maintain alignment with industry expectations.
Playbooks must address evolving new threats. Threat actors constantly develop new tactics and techniques. Playbooks must be updated to address these emerging threats and ensure effective response strategies. As technology advances, new vulnerabilities are discovered. Playbooks should be updated to include steps for identifying and mitigating these vulnerabilities.
Playbooks are continuously improving. Every incident provides valuable lessons for improving response processes. Playbooks should be updated to reflect these learnings and ensure a more effective response in the future. Security teams should regularly review and update playbooks based on their experiences and feedback. This ensures that the playbooks remain relevant and practical.
Benefits of Treating Playbooks as Living Documents
Regular updates ensure that playbooks remain effective against evolving threats and vulnerabilities. Updated playbooks streamline incident response processes, minimizing downtime and damage. Playbooks reflect the latest industry standards and regulations, ensuring compliance and reducing legal risks. Updating playbooks fosters a culture of continuous learning and improvement within security teams.
One Last Thing About Playbooks as Living Documents
Treating playbooks as living documents is crucial for maintaining a robust and adaptable cybersecurity posture. Organizations can ensure they are prepared to effectively respond to the ever-changing threat landscape by regularly updating playbooks.
Key Insight on Playbooks
These phases provide a structured approach to incident response, ensuring efficient and effective handling of security threats. It's necessary to refine the processes and procedures in a playbook over time. Cybersecurity teams need to consider the lessons learned from an incident and what improvements should be made to handle incidents more effectively in the future. These updates ensure that playbooks remain relevant and effective in responding to security incidents.
Finally, remember that incident and vulnerability playbooks are just one type organizations use. As you explore the field of cybersecurity, you'll encounter various other playbooks tailored to specific needs and situations.
Playbook Resources
United Kingdom, National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) - Incident Management: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/incident-management
Australian Government - Cyber Incident Response Plan: https://www.cyber.gov.au/acsc/view-all-content/publications/cyber-incident-response-plan
Japan Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Center (JPCERT/CC) - Vulnerability Handling and related guidelines: https://www.jpcert.or.jp/english/activities/vulnerability/
Government of Canada - Ransomware Playbook: https://cyber.gc.ca/en/guidance/ransomware-playbook
Scottish Government - Playbook Templates: https://www.gov.scot/publications/playbook-templates/