Security Response Scenario

Having established incident response plans is essential for timely, efficient, and organized action when a security even occurs. These plans ensure that employees know exactly what steps to take, who to notify, and how to contain incidents before they grow into a larger problem. Below is a sample incident response plan in response to a compromised social media profile.

Identification

Determine whether the company’s social media account has been accessed an unauthorized party. Signs may included unexpected posts, login alerts, password reset notifications, or suspicious messages.

Containment

Immediately prevent further unauthorized activity through revoking active sessions, locking the account, removing malicious posts, and blocking any identified access routes. If available restrict profile visibility until the situation is resolved.

Eradication

Identify and remove the root cause of the compromise (in this case, a compromised password due to a phishing attack). This typically involves removing compromised passwords and recovery methods, and confirming that no additional accounts or systems were affected. Ensure the attack vector (the phishing email) is documented and isolated.

Recovery

Restore secure access to the account and return operations to normal. Reset passwords using strong, unique credentials and ensure 2FA is enabled. Monitor the account closely for suspicious activity, ensure branding is restored, and communicate transparently if customers were affected by the compromised account.

Notification
and Communication

Inform internal staff, including management, security, and HR about the incident and recovery status. If the compromise affected customers or exposed sensitive information, issue a public statement on social media to maintain trust.

Documentation

Record the full timeline of the incident. When it was detected, what actions were taken, and the outcome. Include screenshots, phishing emails, log entries, and any communication made during the response

Post
Incident
Review

Review what went well and what failed during the incident response process. Identify gaps in security such as weak passwords, lack of 2FA, inadqueute training, or missing detection controls. Use these findings to strengthen policies, update security measures, and refine future response procedures.

Prevention
and
Training

Update staff training materials to reinforce awareness of phishing threats and social media security best practices. Encourage routine security checks, password renewals, and regular review of permissions for integrated services.

Post
Incident
Review

Review what went well and what failed during the incident response process. Identify gaps in security such as weak passwords, lack of 2FA, inadqueute training, or missing detection controls. Use these findings to strengthen policies, update security measures, and refine future response procedures.