NIST SP 800-53
Security

Incident Response Policy (IR Family) Template

Establishes an incident response capability including preparation, detection, analysis, containment, recovery, and post-incident activities, aligned with NIST SP 800-53 IR control family.

What This Policy Covers

Purpose and Scope-Policy objectives and applicability (IR-1).
Incident Response Team-Team structure, roles, and contact information (IR-2).
Incident Response Training-Training requirements and frequency (IR-2).
Incident Response Testing-Tabletop and simulation exercise requirements (IR-3).
Incident Handling Procedures-Detection, analysis, containment, eradication, recovery (IR-4).
Incident Monitoring and Reporting-Tracking, documenting, and reporting incidents (IR-5, IR-6).
Post-Incident Analysis-Lessons learned and corrective action tracking (IR-4).
Information Spillage Response-Procedures for unauthorized information disclosure (IR-9).

Required Sections

A compliant Incident Response Policy (IR Family) for NIST SP 800-53 must include the following8 sections. Each section addresses a specific control requirement that auditors will review.

1

Purpose and Scope

Policy objectives and applicability (IR-1).

2

Incident Response Team

Team structure, roles, and contact information (IR-2).

3

Incident Response Training

Training requirements and frequency (IR-2).

4

Incident Response Testing

Tabletop and simulation exercise requirements (IR-3).

5

Incident Handling Procedures

Detection, analysis, containment, eradication, recovery (IR-4).

6

Incident Monitoring and Reporting

Tracking, documenting, and reporting incidents (IR-5, IR-6).

7

Post-Incident Analysis

Lessons learned and corrective action tracking (IR-4).

8

Information Spillage Response

Procedures for unauthorized information disclosure (IR-9).

Generate a Customized Version

This template shows the required structure. PoliWriter generates a fully customized Incident Response Policy (IR Family) that references your actual cloud providers, identity systems, tools, and team practices — ready for auditor review.

Policy Details

Category

Security

Sections

8 total (8 required)

Other NIST SP 800-53 Templates

Access Control Policy (AC Family)

Establishes access control requirements covering account management, access enforcement, separation of duties, and least privilege, aligned with NIST SP 800-53 AC control family.

Audit & Accountability Policy (AU Family)

Defines audit logging, monitoring, and accountability requirements aligned with NIST SP 800-53 AU control family.

Security Assessment & Authorization Policy (CA Family)

Establishes requirements for security assessments, system authorization, and continuous monitoring, aligned with NIST SP 800-53 CA control family.

Configuration Management Policy (CM Family)

Defines configuration management requirements including baseline configurations, change control, and configuration monitoring, aligned with NIST SP 800-53 CM control family.

Contingency Planning Policy (CP Family)

Establishes contingency planning requirements including backup, recovery, and continuity of operations, aligned with NIST SP 800-53 CP control family.

Identification & Authentication Policy (IA Family)

Defines requirements for identifying and authenticating users, devices, and services, aligned with NIST SP 800-53 IA control family.

System & Communications Protection Policy (SC Family)

Defines requirements for protecting system communications and data, including boundary protection, cryptography, and denial-of-service protection, aligned with NIST SP 800-53 SC control family.

Risk Assessment Policy (RA Family)

Establishes requirements for assessing security risks including vulnerability scanning, threat analysis, and privacy impact assessments, aligned with NIST SP 800-53 RA control family.

View all 10 templates