What is DataComm Incident Response Plan Development & Testing?
DataComm’s Incident Response Plan (IRP) Development & Testing service helps you create, update, and validate an incident response program that meets regulatory expectations and actually works when you need it.
We help you:
- Design or refine a formal written Incident Response Plan
- Align it with GLBA/FFIEC guidance and FDIC expectations for reaction and notification procedures
- Implement structured testing, including tabletop/roundtable exercises, to prove the plan works in practice
The result is a practical, role-driven playbook backed by real-world testing, not just a static document on a shelf.
Why incident response planning and testing matter
Security incidents are no longer hypothetical:
- Banks are prime targets because they hold sensitive customer and payment data
- Even strong preventive controls can’t stop every attack or mistake
- Regulators require formal incident response programs as part of information security
- Many states require customer notification after certain types of breaches
A DataComm IRP Development & Testing engagement helps you:
- React quickly and consistently when something goes wrong
- Limit damage to customers, operations, and reputation
- Show examiners you have a documented, tested program – not ad hoc reactions
- Clarify who does what, when, and how during a crisis
How DataComm Incident Response Plan Development & Testing works
We follow a structured process that covers both plan development and plan testing, so you can improve over time.
Current-state review & gap analysis
We start by understanding where you are today:
- Review existing policies, incident procedures, and security program documentation
- Identify any prior incidents and how they were handled
- Compare your current approach to FDIC/FFIEC expectations, including:
- Documented reaction procedures (assess, contain, control)
- Documented notification procedures (regulators, law enforcement, customers, service providers)
You receive a gap assessment that highlights missing elements, unclear roles, and areas where documentation and practice don’t match.
IRP design or enhancement
Next, we help you build or refine a formal Incident Response Plan tailored to your size and complexity:
- Define incident categories and severity levels (e.g., low, medium, high, crisis)
- Document reaction procedures, including how you will:
- Detect and assess a potential incident
- Identify impacted systems and data (especially customer information)
- Contain and control the incident to prevent further damage
- Document notification procedures, including:
- Primary Federal regulator and appropriate law enforcement
- Suspicious Activity Reports (as applicable)
- Customers, business partners, and service providers
We also ensure alignment with related processes such as BC/DR, vendor management, and IT change management.
Roles, responsibilities & communication playbooks
An IRP only works if people know what to do:
- Define Incident Response Team (IRT) membership and alternates
- Clarify responsibilities for:
- Technical triage and containment
- Documentation, evidence, and forensics coordination
- Decision-making and approvals (e.g., customer notification triggers)
- Internal and external communications (management, board, regulators, media)
- Create contact trees and checklists so the response can be launched quickly and consistently
This turns your plan into a practical, actionable playbook.
Tabletop / roundtable incident response testing
Once the plan is documented, we help you test it with realistic scenarios:
- Design one or more tabletop / roundtable exercises based on actual threats (e.g., ransomware, data exfiltration, lost device, compromised credentials)
- Facilitate a structured discussion where participants walk through:
- What the first person who notices the issue should do
- How and when the IRT is activated
- How the organization will contain the incident
- How investigation and evidence handling will be managed
- When and how regulators, law enforcement, customers, and vendors are notified
- Use external guidance and vignettes to reinforce expectations and good practice
We incorporate lessons learned from your roundtable testing directly back into the plan.
Documentation, lessons learned & plan updates
After each test (or real incident), we help you:
- Document what happened, decisions made, and timing of key steps
- Identify gaps and friction points in the plan or execution
- Update the IRP, checklists, and contact lists based on findings
- Capture training and awareness needs for staff and management
This turns testing into a continuous improvement loop, not a one-time compliance exercise.
Key capabilities of DataComm Incident Response Plan Development & Testing
- Regulator-aligned IRP design: structured around FDIC/FFIEC expectations for incident reaction and notification.
- Practical tabletop testing: realistic roundtable exercises that walk through scenarios like system compromise and file deletion.
- Customer data & GLBA focus: emphasis on protecting and responding to incidents involving sensitive customer information.
- Forensics & investigation readiness: clarification of when and how to engage outside forensics resources, preserve evidence, and coordinate with law enforcement.
- Communication & notification planning: templates and guidance for internal updates, board reporting, regulator notification, and customer communication.
What you get with DataComm IRP Development & Testing
A typical engagement includes:
Who DataComm IRP Development & Testing is for
This service is a strong fit if:
- You are a bank, credit union, or financial institution subject to GLBA and FFIEC guidance
- Your current incident response documentation is minimal, outdated, or untested
- You are preparing for an IT / Information Security exam or internal audit where incident response will be reviewed
- You’ve had an incident and want to formalize and improve your response going forward
- Leadership wants confidence that people, process, and documentation are aligned before the next event
USE CASES
Explore the Possible Applications of Incident Response
Building a formal IRP for the first time
You have informal practices but no cohesive plan:
- DataComm designs a formal IRP aligned with regulatory guidance
- A tabletop exercise validates the plan and reveals gaps
- You gain a repeatable process and evidence to show examiners
Annual incident response roundtable test
You want to turn an annual requirement into meaningful practice:
- DataComm helps design and facilitate your yearly roundtable/tabletop using a realistic scenario (e.g., slow systems, unexplained file deletion)
- Participants walk through their roles, decisions, and communications
- The plan is updated based on lessons learned and documented for examiners
Post-incident improvement and retest
You’ve recently experienced a security incident:
- DataComm reviews how the incident was handled against your IRP and regulatory expectations
- The plan and procedures are updated to address gaps
- A follow-up tabletop validates that new processes work as intended
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Common questions
An IRP engagement focuses specifically on how you respond when an incident occurs – roles, steps, and communications – rather than broadly examining all security controls.
Most institutions benefit from at least annual testing, plus additional exercises after major changes (e.g., new core, new online channels, major provider changes) or significant incidents.
Both are possible. Many tabletop / roundtable exercises work well over video conference, while some institutions prefer onsite facilitation for richer interaction.
Yes. The service is designed to align with Federal banking agency guidance on incident response programs and breach notification.
Next steps
To tailor DataComm Incident Response Plan Development & Testing to your organization, we recommend documenting:
- Your current incident response documentation, if any
- Recent incidents or near-misses you’d like to learn from
- Any upcoming exams, audits, or board discussions involving cybersecurity or incident readiness
Ready to harden your network against active threats?
Schedule an Incident Response Plan strategy session with DataComm to build, refine, and test an incident response program that protects your customers, your institution, and your reputation.