A.5.25 "Assessment and Decision on Information Security Events" would include:
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Event Assessment Procedures: Documented procedures outlining how information security events are assessed, including criteria for determining whether an event is an incident, the severity of the event, and the potential impact on the organization.
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Incident Classification Criteria: Clear criteria for classifying events into different categories based on their severity and impact, such as low, medium, and high-risk events.
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Escalation Process: Clearly defined procedures for escalating events to appropriate personnel or teams based on their severity and impact. This should include criteria for involving senior management and incident response teams.
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Decision-Making Framework: A documented framework or decision matrix that guides the organization in determining the appropriate response actions for different types of events.
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Risk Assessment: Evidence of risk assessments conducted to evaluate the potential impact and likelihood of events, helping prioritize the organization's response efforts.
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Response Guidelines: Clearly defined guidelines for responding to events of different severity levels, including recommended actions, communication protocols, and escalation procedures.
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Communication Plan: Documentation of how information security events are communicated within the organization, including whom to inform and the channels to use.
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Reporting Mechanisms: Records of how events are reported to relevant stakeholders, such as incident response teams, management, legal, and regulatory bodies.
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Coordination with External Parties: Proof of coordination efforts with external parties, such as third-party vendors, customers, law enforcement, and regulatory bodies, if required.
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Documentation of Decisions: Evidence of decisions made regarding the appropriate response to events, along with the rationale for each decision.
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Timely Responses: Records of prompt responses to events based on their severity, ensuring that appropriate actions are taken to mitigate risks.
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Lessons Learned: Documentation of lessons learned from past events, including how they were assessed, decisions made, and the effectiveness of the responses.
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Continuous Improvement: Proof of efforts to continuously improve the event assessment and decision-making process based on feedback and lessons learned.
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Review and Audit: Documentation of reviews and audits conducted to assess the effectiveness and consistency of event assessment and decision-making practices.
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Training and Awareness: Records of training sessions and awareness programs for relevant personnel, ensuring they understand the event assessment and decision-making process.
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Legal and Regulatory Compliance: Evidence that the event assessment and decision-making process aligns with relevant legal and regulatory requirements.
By examining these pieces of evidence, an auditor can determine whether the organization has established a systematic and effective process for assessing and making decisions regarding information security events, thus ensuring a swift and appropriate response to minimize risks and potential impacts.
