Our Data Incident Response Plan

Effective Date: 30.01.2024

1. Purpose

The purpose of this Data Incident Response Plan is to establish procedures for detecting, responding to, and mitigating the impact of data security incidents at MULTI-ME LTD. The goal is to minimise the potential damage to data assets, protect the confidentiality and integrity of information, and comply with applicable UK and EU laws and regulations, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

2. Incident Categories

a. Security Incidents

  • Unauthorized access to data.

  • Malware or virus infections.

  • Insider threats.

  • Compromised credentials.

  • Denial of service attacks.

b. Data Breach

  • Unauthorized disclosure of sensitive or confidential data.

3. Incident Response Team

The Incident Response Team (IRT) will be formed and led by the designated Security Officer. The team members include representatives from IT, Legal, Compliance, and relevant business units.

4. Incident Detection

  • Implement monitoring tools and procedures to detect unusual or suspicious activities.

  • Regularly review logs and alerts for signs of unauthorized access or abnormal behaviour.

5. Incident Reporting

  • Any employee who suspects a security incident must report it immediately to the designated Security Officer.

  • The Security Officer will assess the severity of the incident and determine the appropriate course of action.

6. Initial Response

  • Isolate affected systems or networks to prevent further damage.

  • Preserve evidence for forensic analysis.

  • Notify necessary internal stakeholders, including executive management.

7. Investigation

  • The Incident Response Team will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the scope and impact of the incident.

  • Collaborate with law enforcement, if necessary.

  • Identify and address the root cause of the incident.

8. Communication

  • Establish a communication plan to keep internal and external stakeholders informed about the incident.

  • Work with the Legal and PR teams to manage public relations and comply with legal notification requirements under GDPR.

9. Mitigation

  • Implement measures to contain and remediate the incident.

  • Update security controls and policies to prevent similar incidents in the future.

10. Recovery

  • Restore affected systems and data to normal operations.

  • Conduct post-incident analysis to identify lessons learned and areas for improvement.

11. Documentation

  • Document all aspects of the incident response process, including actions taken, findings, and lessons learned.

  • Use this information to enhance future incident response efforts.

12. Review and Improvement

  • Conduct a post-incident review to assess the effectiveness of the response and identify areas for improvement.

  • Update the incident response plan based on lessons learned and changes in the threat landscape.

13. Training and Awareness

  • Conduct regular training and awareness programmes to educate employees about incident reporting procedures and best practices for data security, emphasising GDPR compliance.

14. Legal and Regulatory Compliance

  • Ensure compliance with all applicable UK and EU laws and regulations during the incident response process, with particular attention to GDPR.

  • Collaborate with legal counsel to address legal obligations and responsibilities.

15. External Support

  • Establish relationships with external cybersecurity experts and law enforcement agencies to facilitate a coordinated response in the event of a major incident.

16. Communication Channels

  • Define communication channels for incident reporting and coordination within the Incident Response Team and with external entities.

17. Escalation Procedures

  • Establish procedures for escalating incidents to higher levels of management based on severity.

18. Contacts

  • Maintain a list of contact information for key personnel, external partners, and authorities involved in incident response.

This Data Incident Response Plan is designed to provide a structured and effective approach to managing data security incidents at MULTI-ME LTD, ensuring compliance with UK and EU laws and regulations, including GDPR. Regular testing and updates to this plan are essential to ensure its continued effectiveness.