ISO 27001:2022 Annex A Control 5.24 Information Security Incident Management Planning and Preparation

ISO 27001:2022 Annex A Control 5.24 – Information Security Incident Management Planning and Preparation

Information security incidents can have severe consequences for organisations, including operational disruption, financial loss, and reputational damage. ISO 27001:2022 Annex A Control 5.24 introduces a structured framework to help organisations effectively plan, prepare for, and manage such incidents. By defining clear procedures and roles, this control ensures that organisations are equipped to minimise the impact of security incidents and learn from them to prevent recurrence.

What Is ISO 27001:2022 Annex A Control 5.24?

Annex A Control 5.24 provides guidance for developing an incident management approach that addresses weaknesses, events, and security incidents systematically. An information security incident involves a breach of confidentiality, integrity, or availability of information.

This control emphasises:

1. The importance of planning and preparation to handle incidents.
2. Clearly defined roles and responsibilities to ensure an organised response.
3. Constructive communication during high-pressure scenarios to mitigate operational or commercial damage.

Organisations must document formal procedures for incident management, and these procedures must be demonstrably effective during audits.

Purpose of ISO 27001:2022 Annex A Control 5.24

The primary objective of Annex A Control 5.24 is to provide organisations with a consistent, practical approach to handling information security incidents. The control ensures:

• A reduction in the operational and financial impact of incidents.
• Alignment between incident management practices and legal or regulatory requirements.
• Continuous improvement of incident management procedures through lessons learned.

By planning and preparing for potential security incidents, organisations can enhance resilience and maintain business continuity.

Ownership of Annex A Control 5.24

Annex A Control 5.24 is typically overseen by the organisation’s Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) or a similar role responsible for information security.

In smaller organisations, this responsibility may fall to the Chief Operating Officer (COO) or a Service Manager, depending on the organisation’s structure. Ownership involves managing the end-to-end incident response process, from initial detection to resolution and lessons learned.

Implementing ISO 27001:2022 Annex A Control 5.24

1. Define Roles and Responsibilities

To effectively manage incidents, organisations must:

• Develop and document a standardised method for reporting security events. This includes establishing a single point of contact for reporting.
• Define clear roles for handling incidents, such as administrators for detection, analysts for prioritisation and analysis, and managers for communication and escalation.
• Provide ongoing training for personnel to ensure they are competent in managing information security incidents.

2. Plan Incident Management Processes

Incident management processes should address:

• Detection and Reporting: Establish a process for identifying and reporting incidents promptly.
• Triage and Prioritisation: Assess the severity and potential impact of the incident to determine the appropriate response level.
• Analysis and Escalation: Investigate the root cause and escalate incidents based on severity.
• Response and Recovery: Outline steps for resolving the incident and restoring affected systems or data.
• Lessons Learned: Document findings to improve future incident response efforts.

3. Establish Reporting Guidelines

Reporting should focus on:

• Ensuring that security events are communicated accurately and promptly.
• Using standardised incident forms to capture detailed information about the event.
• Providing feedback to staff and stakeholders once incidents are resolved.
• Complying with external reporting requirements, such as regulatory obligations.

4. Maintain Documentation and Logs

All incident management activities should be thoroughly documented, including:

• Incident details, analysis, and response actions.
• Communication with internal and external parties.
• Evidence handling, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory standards.

Managing Incidents: Key Activities

Annex A Control 5.24 identifies eight main activities for managing information security incidents effectively:

1. Event Evaluation: Determine whether an event qualifies as a security incident based on predefined criteria.
2. Monitoring and Detection: Continuously monitor systems to detect incidents (see Annex A Controls 8.15 and 8.16).
3. Classification: Classify incidents to determine their severity and required response (see Annex A Control 5.25).
4. Analysis: Investigate the root cause and potential impact of the incident.
5. Reporting: Ensure incidents are reported promptly and accurately (see Annex A Control 6.8).
6. Response and Escalation: Activate crisis management or business continuity plans if needed (see Annex A Control 5.26).
7. Recovery: Minimise operational or financial damage by restoring affected systems or data.
8. Post-Incident Review: Conduct root cause analysis and implement improvements to prevent recurrence.

Best Practices for Incident Management

To implement a robust incident management process:

1. Integrate Incident Management into Business Processes: Incident management should align with broader business continuity and risk management efforts.
2. Regular Training and Drills: Train staff on incident response procedures and conduct regular simulations to test preparedness.
3. Collaborate Internally and Externally: Foster communication and collaboration among internal teams and external stakeholders, such as regulators or law enforcement.
4. Use Automation Tools: Leverage automation to monitor, detect, and classify incidents, reducing response times.
5. Continuously Improve: Regularly review and update incident management procedures based on lessons learned and evolving threats.

Supporting Annex A Controls

Annex A Control 5.24 aligns closely with the following controls for a comprehensive approach to incident management:

• 5.25: Classification of Information Security Incidents.
• 5.26: Incident Response Planning.
• 6.8: Incident Reporting.
• 8.15 and 8.16: System Monitoring and Detection.

Changes from ISO 27001:2013

Annex A Control 5.24 replaces ISO 27001:2013 Annex A 16.1.1 but introduces a more detailed approach to:

1. Defining Roles and Responsibilities: Emphasising role delegation to ensure accountability in incident management.
2. Incident Management Processes: Providing a clearer breakdown of steps, including triage, prioritisation, and root cause analysis.
3. Reporting Procedures: Highlighting the importance of documentation and compliance with external reporting obligations.

The updated control reflects the increasing complexity of today’s threat landscape and the need for robust, adaptable incident management strategies.

How Harpe Can Help Implement ISO 27001:2022 Annex A Control 5.24

Managing information security incidents effectively requires preparation, coordination, and continuous improvement. Harpe.io simplifies the process by providing tools to support incident management, including:

• Centralised Incident Reporting: Harpe.io allows organisations to record, track, and manage incidents in one platform, ensuring consistent and accurate reporting.
• Customisable Response Plans: Develop and implement tailored response procedures for different types of incidents.
• Incident Analysis and Lessons Learned: Use Harpe's tools to document root cause analysis and identify process improvements.
• Compliance Monitoring: Ensure adherence to ISO 27001 standards with built-in audit trails and reporting capabilities.

Conclusion

ISO 27001:2022 Annex A Control 5.24 equips organisations with the tools to plan and prepare for information security incidents effectively. By defining roles, implementing structured processes, and prioritising communication, organisations can mitigate the impact of incidents and enhance resilience.

With Harpe, your organisation can streamline incident management, ensure compliance, and continuously improve your processes. Ready to strengthen your incident response capabilities? Get started with Harpe today!