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An Incident Response Plan maps out exactly how your organization will detect, respond to, and recover from cybersecurity incidents or data breaches. In Pakistan, where the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 sets strict requirements for data protection, these plans help companies meet their legal obligations while protecting sensitive information.

The plan outlines specific roles, responsibilities, and step-by-step procedures for your response team. It covers everything from initial breach detection to stakeholder communication, evidence preservation for Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and system recovery. Think of it as your organization's emergency playbook for handling digital security crises and maintaining compliance with local cybersecurity regulations.

Your Incident Response Plan springs into action the moment you detect or suspect a cybersecurity breach. Under Pakistan's Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, organizations must respond swiftly to data compromises, system intrusions, or suspicious network activity. The plan guides your immediate actions during those critical first hours.

Activate your response plan when facing cyber attacks, ransomware incidents, data theft, or unauthorized system access. It's essential during network outages, when discovering malware, or if employee devices are compromised. The plan also helps coordinate with Pakistan's FIA and CERT teams, ensuring proper incident reporting and evidence handling while maintaining business continuity.

• Basic Response Plan: Outlines essential steps for small businesses, covering incident detection, containment, and basic reporting to Pakistan's cybersecurity authorities
• Enterprise-Level Plan: Comprehensive framework for large organizations, including detailed protocols for multiple incident types and coordination across departments
• Financial Sector Plan: Specialized version meeting State Bank of Pakistan's cybersecurity requirements, with additional controls for banking data protection
• Government Agency Plan: Structured according to Pakistan's national cybersecurity framework, with strict protocols for handling classified information
• Healthcare Response Plan: Focused on patient data protection under local health privacy regulations, with specific procedures for medical record breaches

• IT Security Teams: Lead the development and execution of Incident Response Plans, coordinating technical responses during breaches
• Legal Departments: Ensure compliance with Pakistan's cybersecurity laws and guide incident reporting to regulatory bodies
• C-Suite Executives: Approve plans, allocate resources, and make critical decisions during major security incidents
• Department Managers: Implement response procedures within their teams and report incidents to response coordinators
• External Consultants: Provide specialized expertise in cybersecurity planning and assist during major incidents
• FIA Cyber Crime Wing: Reviews incident reports and investigates significant breaches under Pakistani law

• Asset Inventory: Document all critical systems, data types, and network infrastructure that need protection
• Team Structure: Map out key roles, contact details, and responsibilities for your incident response team
• Risk Assessment: Identify potential threats specific to your industry under Pakistan's cybersecurity framework
• Response Procedures: Define clear steps for incident detection, containment, and recovery phases
• Communication Plan: Create templates for notifying stakeholders, FIA, and relevant authorities
• Recovery Strategy: Outline backup systems, data restoration procedures, and business continuity measures
• Testing Schedule: Plan regular drills and updates to keep the response plan current and effective

• Incident Classification: Clear definitions of security incidents as per Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016
• Response Team Structure: Detailed roles and authority chain following Pakistani regulatory requirements
• Reporting Protocols: Mandatory notification procedures for FIA and relevant authorities
• Data Protection Measures: Specific safeguards aligned with Pakistan's data protection framework
• Evidence Preservation: Legal requirements for maintaining digital evidence integrity
• Recovery Procedures: Step-by-step system restoration protocols meeting regulatory standards
• Documentation Requirements: Incident logging and reporting formats as required by local cybercrime laws

An Incident Response Plan often gets confused with a Data Breach Response Plan, but they serve different purposes in Pakistan's cybersecurity framework. While both deal with security incidents, their scope and application differ significantly.

• Scope of Coverage: Incident Response Plans cover all types of security incidents (system failures, cyber attacks, physical security breaches), while Data Breach Response Plans focus specifically on compromised data scenarios
• Regulatory Requirements: Incident Response Plans align with broader cybersecurity regulations under PECA 2016, whereas Data Breach Response Plans specifically address data protection obligations
• Team Structure: Incident Response Plans involve IT security, operations, and management teams, while Data Breach Response Plans primarily engage data protection officers and legal teams
• Response Timeline: Incident Response Plans provide immediate action steps for various scenarios, while Data Breach Response Plans focus on post-breach investigation and notification procedures