Security Incident Procedures
164.308(a)(5)
Administrative Safeguards
Critical Risk
Complex
Implement policies and procedures to address security incidents.
Implementation Guidance
Develop and implement comprehensive security incident procedures including:
• Incident detection and reporting procedures
• Incident response team roles and responsibilities
• Incident classification and prioritization
• Incident containment and mitigation procedures
• Incident investigation and analysis procedures
• Incident documentation and reporting requirements
• Post-incident review and improvement procedures
Key components:
- Incident response plan
- Incident response team
- Incident detection and reporting
- Incident classification system
- Incident containment procedures
- Incident documentation requirements
• Incident detection and reporting procedures
• Incident response team roles and responsibilities
• Incident classification and prioritization
• Incident containment and mitigation procedures
• Incident investigation and analysis procedures
• Incident documentation and reporting requirements
• Post-incident review and improvement procedures
Key components:
- Incident response plan
- Incident response team
- Incident detection and reporting
- Incident classification system
- Incident containment procedures
- Incident documentation requirements
NIST References
NIST SP 800-66 Rev. 2: Section 3.1.5
NIST Cybersecurity Framework: RS.RP-1, RS.CO-1, RS.CO-2, RS.CO-3, RS.CO-4, RS.CO-5, RS.AN-1, RS.AN-2, RS.AN-3, RS.AN-4, RS.AN-5, RS.MI-1, RS.MI-2, RS.MI-3, RS.IM-1, RS.IM-2
NIST SP 800-53: IR-1, IR-2, IR-3, IR-4, IR-5, IR-6, IR-7, IR-8, IR-9, IR-10
NIST Cybersecurity Framework: RS.RP-1, RS.CO-1, RS.CO-2, RS.CO-3, RS.CO-4, RS.CO-5, RS.AN-1, RS.AN-2, RS.AN-3, RS.AN-4, RS.AN-5, RS.MI-1, RS.MI-2, RS.MI-3, RS.IM-1, RS.IM-2
NIST SP 800-53: IR-1, IR-2, IR-3, IR-4, IR-5, IR-6, IR-7, IR-8, IR-9, IR-10
Best Practices
• Develop comprehensive incident response plan
• Establish trained incident response team
• Implement effective incident detection and reporting
• Use clear incident classification system
• Develop effective containment procedures
• Document all incident activities
• Conduct regular post-incident reviews
• Regular testing and updating of procedures
• Establish trained incident response team
• Implement effective incident detection and reporting
• Use clear incident classification system
• Develop effective containment procedures
• Document all incident activities
• Conduct regular post-incident reviews
• Regular testing and updating of procedures
Testing Procedures
• Review security incident response plan
• Test incident detection and reporting procedures
• Verify incident response team training
• Test incident classification and prioritization
• Review incident containment procedures
• Verify incident documentation requirements
• Test post-incident review procedures
• Conduct incident response exercises
• Test incident detection and reporting procedures
• Verify incident response team training
• Test incident classification and prioritization
• Review incident containment procedures
• Verify incident documentation requirements
• Test post-incident review procedures
• Conduct incident response exercises
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What constitutes a security incident?
A: A security incident is any event that compromises the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of ePHI or information systems.
Q: How quickly should security incidents be reported?
A: Security incidents should be reported immediately upon detection, with specific timeframes defined in the incident response plan.
Q: What should be included in incident documentation?
A: Incident documentation should include incident details, response actions, timeline, impact assessment, and lessons learned.
A: A security incident is any event that compromises the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of ePHI or information systems.
Q: How quickly should security incidents be reported?
A: Security incidents should be reported immediately upon detection, with specific timeframes defined in the incident response plan.
Q: What should be included in incident documentation?
A: Incident documentation should include incident details, response actions, timeline, impact assessment, and lessons learned.
Control Information
Control ID:
164.308(a)(5)
164.308(a)(5)
Category:
Administrative Safeguards
Administrative Safeguards
Subcategory:
Security Management Process
Security Management Process
Risk Level:
Critical
Critical
Implementation Difficulty:
Complex
Complex
Estimated Cost:
High
High
Implementation Timeframe:
3-6 months
3-6 months
Views:
3
3
Last Updated:
Oct 1, 2025
Oct 1, 2025
Related Controls
Additional Resources
• NIST SP 800-66 Rev. 2: Security Incident Procedures Guidance
• HHS Security Incident Procedures Guidance
• Incident Response Plan Template
• Incident Response Team Training Guide
• Incident Classification Framework
• HHS Security Incident Procedures Guidance
• Incident Response Plan Template
• Incident Response Team Training Guide
• Incident Classification Framework