IR-4(3)—Incident Handling | Continuity of Operations

IL5

IL6

>Control Description

Identify ⚙organization-defined classes of incidents and take the following actions in response to those incidents to ensure continuation of organizational mission and business functions: ⚙organization-defined actions to take in response to classes of incidents.

>DoD Impact Level Requirements

No specific parameter values or requirements for this impact level.

>Discussion

Classes of incidents include malfunctions due to design or implementation errors and omissions, targeted malicious attacks, and untargeted malicious attacks. Incident response actions include orderly system degradation, system shutdown, fall back to manual mode or activation of alternative technology whereby the system operates differently, employing deceptive measures, alternate information flows, or operating in a mode that is reserved for when systems are under attack. Organizations consider whether continuity of operations requirements during an incident conflict with the capability to automatically disable the system as specified as part of IR-4(5).

>Assessment Interview Topics

Questions assessors commonly ask

Process & Governance:

•What formal policies and procedures govern the implementation of IR-4(3) (Continuity Of Operations)?
•Who are the designated roles responsible for implementing, maintaining, and monitoring IR-4(3)?
•How frequently is the IR-4(3) policy reviewed and updated, and what triggers policy changes?
•What governance structure ensures IR-4(3) requirements are consistently applied across all systems?

Technical Implementation:

•Describe the specific technical mechanisms or controls used to enforce IR-4(3) requirements.
•What automated tools, systems, or technologies are deployed to implement IR-4(3)?
•How is IR-4(3) integrated into your system architecture and overall security posture?
•What configuration settings, parameters, or technical specifications enforce IR-4(3) requirements?

Evidence & Documentation:

•What documentation demonstrates the complete implementation of IR-4(3)?
•What audit logs, records, reports, or monitoring data validate IR-4(3) compliance?
•Can you provide evidence of periodic reviews, assessments, or testing of IR-4(3) effectiveness?
•What artifacts would you present during a FedRAMP assessment to demonstrate IR-4(3) compliance?

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