How to Create an Effective Incident Response Plan
Without an incident response plan
Australian organisations risk significant financial, operational, and reputational damage.
Incident Response Plan
When a cyber incident strikes, every second counts. An incident response plan is a structured, strategic approach to identifying, containing, and resolving cyberattacks or data breaches. Without one, Australian organisations risk significant financial, operational, and reputational damage.
What is an Incident Response Plan?
An incident response plan (IRP) is a documented set of instructions that outlines how an organisation detects, responds to, and recovers from cybersecurity incidents. These plans are vital for organisations of all sizes — from government agencies to SMEs — and they are often required under compliance frameworks such as the Essential Eight and ISO/IEC 27001.
According to the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC), an effective IRP helps reduce the impact of an attack, restore services quickly, and improve security posture over time.
Why Your Organisation Needs One
Australia faces a growing threat landscape. In 2023 alone, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) reported over 900 notifiable data breaches, many of which were the result of malicious cyber incidents.
Without a response plan, organisations often:
- React too slowly or inconsistently
- Fail to notify authorities or affected individuals in time
- Suffer greater financial and legal consequences
An IRP ensures a coordinated, efficient response — reducing confusion, preserving critical data, and meeting regulatory obligations.
Key Components of an Incident Response Plan
Preparation
- Assign roles and responsibilities (e.g. incident commander, IT leads, legal advisor)
- Develop communication plans, including escalation paths and media statements
- Ensure backups, logging, and detection tools are operational and monitored
Detection & Analysis
- Establish criteria for recognising incidents (e.g. unusual outbound traffic, login anomalies)
- Use tools like SIEM, antivirus logs, and endpoint detection to confirm and assess the event
Containment
- Isolate affected systems to prevent lateral movement
- Apply temporary fixes (e.g. firewall rules, access lockouts) to contain damage
Eradication & Recovery
- Remove malware or unauthorised access
- Patch vulnerabilities, rebuild systems, and restore from backups
- Monitor for recurrence or follow-up threats
Post-Incident Review
- Conduct a formal debrief and timeline analysis
- Document lessons learned and update policies or response procedures accordingly
Aligning with Australian Standards
Australian businesses should align their IRPs with guidance from the ACSC and industry-specific regulators such as:
- APRA CPS 234 (for financial institutions)
- Health Records Act 2001 (Vic) and My Health Records Act 2012 (for healthcare providers)
The ACSC also provides a Cyber Incident Response Plan Template that is particularly useful for small and medium enterprises.
Final Thoughts
Having an incident response plan is no longer optional — it’s a critical component of good cyber hygiene. An effective IRP limits downtime, ensures regulatory compliance, and safeguards both your systems and your stakeholders’ trust.
Whether you’re a school, a business, or a not-for-profit in Australia, now is the time to create — or update — your plan. The cost of delay could be severe.