Cyber Incident Response Plan – Master
Last updated: March 2025
If you’re dealing with an active cyber incident, call 0800 WITNESS immediately and proceed to the steps in Section C – Procedure.
Section A – Preface
Purpose
This plan outlines MTG’s procedures for responding to cyber incidents, including unauthorised access, privacy breaches, and cyberattacks. It follows the NIST SP 800-61 Rev. 2 framework and is divided into three sections:
Section A: Preface
Section B: Policy
Section C: Procedure
Document Control & Distribution
All members of the Cyber Incident Response Team (CIRT) are issued a printed and up-to-date copy of this plan. This plan aligns with incident response best practices and regulatory obligations.
Testing and Updates
The plan is reviewed:
After any major cyber incident or simulation (Post-Incident Review)
After any failed test or audit
At least annually
The Incident Response Lead is responsible for:
Initiating annual testing (e.g. tabletop exercises or real-incident reviews)
Assigning a note-taker to record improvement areas
Distributing updated versions to all CIRT members
Section B – Cyber Incident Response Policy
1. Scope and Policy
All staff must follow the procedures in this document when a cyber incident or privacy breach is discovered. Our policy prioritises compliance with the Privacy Act 2020, and protection of staff, clients, and company data.
2. Incident Types
Cyber Incident: Includes unauthorised access, malware, denial-of-service, or data theft.
Privacy Breach: Any unauthorised or accidental access to personal information.
3. Incident Prioritisation
Incidents are prioritised based on:
Impact (e.g. financial, legal, reputational harm)
Urgency (how quickly the issue needs to be resolved)
4. Reporting External Incidents
Depending on severity, incidents may be reported to:
NZ Police (111 for emergencies, 105 for non-urgent)
5. Monitoring Tools
Dark Web Monitoring – for compromised data
Social Media Monitoring – for brand/reputational issues
Credit Monitoring – for potential financial harm
Auto Communication Tools (DBACT) – for breach notifications
Section C – Incident Response Procedure
This section outlines the four NIST phases of cyber incident response.
Phase 1 – Preparation
Assign and train the Cyber Incident Response Team (CIRT) with defined roles:
Incident Controller – Overall command
Response Lead – Oversees planning/testing
Coordinator – Records actions and liaises with parties
Cybersecurity Lead – Technical security advisor
Technology Lead – Oversees IT systems
Applications Lead – Ensures continuity of critical software
Executive – Authorises spend, confirms key decisions
Legal, Risk, Privacy Officers – Manage compliance and reporting
PR/Communications – Issues internal/external updates
People & Culture – Supports team wellbeing
Forensic Expert & SMEs – Assist as needed
Phase 2 – Detection & Analysis
Report Incident to the Service Desk or CIRT Controller
Raise a ticket – Record all known details
Notify CIRT
Assess Incident – Is this an ongoing issue or operational error?
Privacy Risk Check – Determine if personal information was breached
Notify External Agencies if serious harm is possible
Prepare Communications using pre-approved templates (DBACT)
Phase 3 – Containment, Eradication & Recovery
Contain Threat
Lock accounts
Disconnect affected systems
Preserve forensic evidence
Engage Third Parties if required
Incident Response Solutions: 0800 WITNESS or Campbell McKenzie – 021 779 310
Eradicate Malware/Threats
Follow playbooks to clean and secure systems
Recover Systems
Restore operations
Implement new controls
Review for recurring issues
Document Findings
Impact summary
Affected systems
Lessons learned
Update PR/comms
Phase 4 – Post-Incident Activity
Conduct Lessons Learned Session
Update this Plan and playbooks accordingly
Evaluate response performance (people, systems, vendors)
Finalise incident report and present to the Board
Incident Response Firm Contact
Incident Response Solutions
Phone: 0800 WITNESS or 021 779 310 (Campbell McKenzie)
Email: support@incidentresponse.co.nz
Website: incidentresponse.co.nz
Location: Level 6, 41 Shortland Street, Auckland