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.
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.
Get This Template
Copy the full Incident Response Plan template below or download it as a text file.
Need Customization?
A template is a start, but every organization is unique. Vetted IR firms can customize this plan for your specific tech stack and risks.
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