Internal and External Reporting Requirements

Lesson 33/35 | Study Time: 15 Min

Course: ISO 27035 Information Security Incident Manager Course

Effective reporting is a crucial element of information security incident management. Organizations must meet both internal and external reporting requirements to ensure transparent communication, regulatory compliance, and timely decision-making.

Internal reporting facilitates coordinated responses and management oversight within the organization, while external reporting addresses legal mandates, stakeholder trust, and regulatory investigations.

Clear understanding and structured execution of reporting obligations strengthen the overall incident response framework.

Internal Reporting Requirements

Internal reporting ensures that all relevant parties within an organization are informed and empowered to act appropriately during a security incident.

1. Incident Detection Reporting: Frontline staff and IT personnel must promptly report potential incidents to the incident response team or designated authority.

2. Management Notifications: Senior management, security committees, and executive leadership receive timely updates on incident status, impacts, and required decisions.

3. Cross-Departmental Communication: Ensure affected business units, legal, compliance, HR, and communications teams are kept informed for coordinated action.

4. Incident Documentation: Record all internal reports and communications in centralized incident management systems for accountability and future analysis.

5. Frequency and Detail: Reporting frequency and technical detail vary based on incident severity and stakeholder role.

External Reporting Requirements

External reporting involves communicating incident information to outside entities to fulfill legal, regulatory, contractual, or reputational obligations.

1. Regulatory Authorities: Compliance with data breach notification laws (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA) may require reporting within strict timelines.

2. Law Enforcement: Incidents involving criminal activity or significant harm often necessitate prompt notification to law enforcement agencies.

3. Customers and Partners: If incidents affect customer data or services, transparent communication maintains trust and fulfills contractual obligations.

4. Suppliers and Service Providers: Engage partners involved in incident resolution or impacted by the event for coordinated response.

5. Public Disclosure: In some cases, public announcements or media communication are required for transparency or legal compliance.

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Scott Hamilton

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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