Overview
This document establishes the procedures for identifying, reporting, and responding to information security events. It provides a process for handing these events from the time an event is detected to the conclusion and reporting as deemed necessary.
Identification of Information Security Incidents
Information security incidents are events that have the potential to compromise the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of university information and/or information technology resources.
Examples of Information Security Incidents
- Lost or stolen laptop, tablet computer, or smartphone
- Physical breach of Information Technology (IT) communication closets
- Compromise of credentials because of malware, phishing attack, or disclosure of password(s) to an unauthorized person
- Disclosure of protected data to an unauthorized person(s)
- Notification of publicly posted University credentials
- Notification of compromised Personally Identifiable Information (PII)
- Device(s) infected with ransomware
- Unauthorized access of user account(s)
Goals for Information Security Incidents Response
Timely and thorough actions are essential to managing information security incidents and minimizing potential damage. The goals of information security incidents response include:
- Protecting the integrity, availability, and confidentiality of University data, systems, and networks.
- Developing a communications plan for initial reporting and ongoing communications throughout the incident.
- Recovery and restoration of systems and data
- Assisting with the recovery of business processes after an incident
Reporting an Information Security Incident
Any member of the University community can report an information security concern to the Malbon Center for Technology. It is important that security incidents are reported immediately.
To report an Information Security Incident:
- Click on the following link to complete the Information Security Incident Report Form: (Information Security Incident Report Form)
It is important that the Incident Report Form be completed with as much detail regarding the incident as possible. Once the completed form has been submitted, it will generate a notification to The Malbon Center for Technology Incident Response Team.
- Contact The Malbon Center for Technology Help Desk
- The Malbon Center Help Desk phone number is 757-524-5900.
- The Malbon Center Help Desk business hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30a-4:30p.
Incident Response
Once an incident has been reported, The Malbon Center for Technology will serve as the primary point of contact and coordination for the duration of the incident.
If it is determined to be a legitimate incident, a ticket in The Malbon Center ticketing system will be generated and an Incident Coordinator will be assigned from The Malbon Center security team.
The Malbon Center security team is comprised of:
- The Chief Information Officer
- The Manager of System Administration
- The Information Security Officer
Investigate the Incident
The Malbon Center will determine if the incident is active with ongoing impact or an inactive incident that has been contained.
During the investigation, The Malbon Center will determine the following, wherever possible:
- How the incident occurred
- Whether or not the incident resulted in the exposure or potential exposure of restricted data
- If there are other systems, data, or services that might have been impacted or that may be at risk because of the incident
- If the incident involved criminal activity
- What steps need to be taken to recover from the incident
Define and Implement Remediation Plan
During the investigation phase, remediation and/or mitigation steps will be identified and included in a Remediation Plan. Remediation steps will be determined based upon the type and scale of the incident and may include:
- Performing vulnerability patching and system updates
- Securing compromised user accounts
- Restoring affected systems from pre-incident backups
- Implementing additional security controls to prevent future incidents
- Improve business process to reduce risk of recurrence
- Increase cyber security awareness training
- Determine need for an Incident Summary Report
Incident Conclusion and Summary Reporting
If an Incident Summary Report was needed, the report will be finalized and stored internally within Malbon Center for Technology along with the generated service ticket and any supporting documentation developed during the incident.