Data Breach Response Plan Template
Comprehensive incident response plan template. Customize for your organization in under 2 hours. Aligned with NIST CSF, ISO 27001, and major compliance frameworks.
What's Included
1. Executive Summary & Scope
- • Plan objectives and goals
- • Covered systems, data types, and locations
- • Regulatory compliance mapping (GDPR, HIPAA, CCPA, PCI-DSS)
- • Plan ownership and review schedule
2. Response Team Structure
- • RACI matrix for incident response
- • Role definitions: Incident Commander, IT Lead, Legal, Communications, HR
- • Contact information template (internal + external partners)
- • Escalation paths and decision authority
- • External vendor contacts (IR firms, legal counsel, PR)
3. Incident Classification Matrix
- • 5-level severity scale with clear criteria
- • Data type impact assessment (PII, PHI, Financial, Credentials)
- • Business impact categories
- • Response time requirements per severity level
- • Example scenarios for each classification
4. Response Procedures
- • Detection and initial assessment (30-minute checklist)
- • Containment actions by system type
- • Evidence preservation requirements
- • Investigation workflow with decision trees
- • Eradication and recovery procedures
5. Notification Requirements
- • Regulatory timeline matrix (GDPR 72hr, HIPAA 60 days, state laws)
- • Customer notification templates
- • Regulatory filing checklists
- • Internal communication scripts
- • Media statement templates
6. Post-Incident Activities
- • Lessons learned framework
- • Root cause analysis template
- • Corrective action tracking
- • Plan update procedures
- • Metrics and reporting templates
7. Testing & Maintenance
- • Quarterly tabletop exercise scenarios
- • Annual review checklist
- • Training requirements by role
- • Plan version control
- • Continuous improvement process
Why Every Organization Needs a Plan
Organizations with incident response teams and regularly tested plans save an average of $2.66 million per breach compared to those without (IBM 2024 Cost of Data Breach Report). Yet 77% of organizations don't have a consistent IR plan.
A documented response plan provides:
- Faster containment: Clear procedures reduce decision time during chaos
- Regulatory compliance: Demonstrates due diligence to regulators
- Reduced liability: Documented processes show reasonable care
- Team alignment: Everyone knows their role before crisis hits
- Insurance requirements: Many cyber policies require documented plans
The template follows NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) guidelines and aligns with ISO 27001 incident management requirements. It's suitable for organizations of all sizes and industries.
Download Free Template
Get immediate access to the complete response plan template in Word and PDF formats.
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Need Expert Implementation?
IR firms can help customize your plan, conduct tabletop exercises, and ensure compliance with your specific regulatory requirements.
Find IR ConsultantsFrequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to implement this plan?
Basic customization takes 2-4 hours. Full implementation with team training and first tabletop exercise typically requires 2-4 weeks. Start with core procedures, then iterate based on testing results.
Is this plan compliant with GDPR/HIPAA/CCPA?
The template includes regulatory requirement sections for major frameworks. However, you must customize notification timelines and procedures for your specific jurisdictions. Consult legal counsel for compliance verification.
How often should we update the plan?
Minimum annually. Also update after: any actual incident, major infrastructure changes, new regulations, organizational restructuring, or lessons learned from tabletop exercises. Version control is critical.
Do we need an external IR firm if we have this plan?
The plan prepares your internal team but most organizations still need external IR support for: forensic analysis, regulatory expertise, surge capacity, and objective investigation. Include IR firm contacts in your plan.