Documentation and Evidence Handling Procedures

Lesson 19/35 | Study Time: 15 Min

Course: ISO 27035 Information Security Incident Manager Course

Proper documentation and evidence handling are critical aspects of effective incident management. They ensure accurate recording of events, maintain the integrity of evidence, and support incident investigation, legal compliance, and auditing requirements.

Following standardized procedures guarantees that information collected during an incident is reliable, verifiable, and usable for subsequent analysis, reporting, and continuous improvement.

Importance of Documentation

Comprehensive and timely documentation provides a clear, chronological record of the incident, actions taken, decisions made, and lessons learned.

This transparency facilitates coordination among incident response teams and stakeholders, supports accountability, and serves as a basis for regulatory or legal scrutiny.

Key Elements of Documentation

Documentation Element	Description	Purpose / Benefit
Incident Log	Records essential details such as detection time, description, severity, affected assets, personnel involved, and a timeline of response actions.	Ensures accurate tracking and accountability throughout the incident lifecycle.
Communication Records	Captures all internal and external communications, including notifications, decisions, and approvals.	Maintains transparency, supports auditability, and provides evidence of decision-making.
Analysis and Investigation Findings	Documents the root cause analysis, forensic evidence, and technical assessments performed during the investigation.	Supports understanding of incident origins and informs long-term preventive measures
Corrective Actions and Mitigation Steps	Details containment, eradication, recovery, and system improvement activities.	Demonstrates proactive resolution efforts and helps refine response procedures.
Post-Incident Reports	Summarizes incident impact, outcomes, and recommendations for prevention and process enhancement.	Provides insights for management review, lessons learned, and continual improvement.

Evidence Handling Procedures

Maintaining the integrity and chain of custody of digital and physical evidence is essential for ensuring admissibility and credibility, especially if incidents lead to legal actions.

Key Procedural Steps Include:

1. Identification: Recognize and collect all potential evidence promptly upon incident detection.

2. Preservation: Secure evidence to prevent alteration, damage, or deletion by isolating affected systems and creating forensic copies.

3. Chain of Custody Documentation: Maintain a detailed log of who collected, transferred, analyzed, or accessed evidence, including timestamps and signatures.

4. Storage: Store evidence securely in controlled environments with restricted access and appropriate environmental conditions.

5. Analysis: Perform a forensic examination using validated tools and methods without tampering with original evidence.

6. Disposal: Follow legal and organizational policies for secure disposal or retention of evidence post-investigation.

Previous Lesson Next Lesson

Scott Hamilton

Product Designer

Profile

Class Sessions

1- Definition and Significance of Information Security Incidents 2- Types of Security Incidents and Threat Landscape Overview 3- Incident Management Objectives and Benefits 4- Overview of Relevant Standards: ISO/IEC 27035 and Alignment with ISO/IEC 27001 5- Roles and Responsibilities of an Information Security Incident Manager 6- Incident Management Lifecycle Phases 7- Developing and Implementing Incident Management Policies and Procedures 8- Establishing Governance and Organizational Support 9- Incident Classification and Prioritization Techniques 10- Stakeholder Identification and Communication Planning 11- Building an Incident Response Team and Defining Roles 12- Tools, Technologies, and Resources for Incident Management 13- Incident Readiness: Training, Awareness, and Simulation Exercises 14- Establishing Incident Detection and Reporting Mechanisms 15- Coordination with External Entities (Law Enforcement, Vendors, CERTs) 16- Methods and Technologies for Incident Detection and Monitoring (SIEM, IDS/IPS, Logs) 17- Incident Validation and Initial Assessment Techniques 18- Root Cause Analysis and Forensic Considerations 19- Documentation and Evidence Handling Procedures 20- Escalation Processes and Decision Making 21- Strategies for Incident Containment and Mitigation 22- Communication and Coordination During Incident Response 23- Managing Resources and Response Teams Effectively 24- Handling Multiple Concurrent Incidents 25- Documentation and Tracking of Response Actions 26- Eradication Techniques and Removal of Threats 27- System Restoration, Recovery Planning, and Business Continuity Considerations 28- Post-Incident Review and Lessons Learned Workshops 29- Reporting and Compliance Obligations 30- Continuous Improvement and Updating Incident Management Policies 31- Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Incident Management Programs 32- Incident Trend Analysis and Reporting Techniques 33- Internal and External Reporting Requirements 34- Conducting Audits and Maturity Assessments 35- Lessons Learned Integration and Feedback Loops to Improve Processes

Documentation and Evidence Handling Procedures

Evidence Handling Procedures

Scott Hamilton

Class Sessions

Sales Campaign