��������Ƶ

A Data Breach Response Policy maps out exactly how your organization will detect, respond to, and recover from security incidents that expose sensitive data. For Indian businesses, this policy needs to align with the Information Technology Act 2000 and CERT-In's reporting requirements, which mandate notifying authorities within 6 hours of discovering a breach.

The policy sets clear roles and responsibilities for your incident response team, establishes step-by-step procedures for containing breaches, and outlines how to communicate with affected stakeholders. It also includes specific guidelines for protecting personal data under India's proposed Digital Personal Data Protection framework, helping organizations maintain compliance while minimizing damage to operations and reputation.

Put your Data Breach Response Policy into action the moment you discover unauthorized access to customer data, system compromises, or cyber attacks. This is especially critical for Indian businesses handling sensitive information like financial records, healthcare data, or government identifiers, where CERT-In requires breach reporting within 6 hours.

Activate the policy when your security monitoring systems detect unusual patterns, employees report suspicious activities, or third-party vendors alert you to potential breaches. Having these procedures ready before an incident helps your team respond quickly, meet regulatory deadlines, and protect both customer data and company reputation under India's evolving data protection framework.

• Basic Incident Response: These policies focus on immediate breach detection and containment, typically used by small businesses to meet CERT-In's 6-hour reporting requirement.
• Industry-Specific Response: Healthcare organizations and financial institutions add specialized sections for handling medical records or banking data under Indian privacy laws.
• Enterprise-Level Response: Comprehensive policies with detailed procedures for multiple breach scenarios, cross-border data transfers, and vendor management requirements.
• Regulatory Compliance-Focused: Policies specially structured around IT Act compliance, featuring detailed reporting procedures and documentation requirements.

• IT Security Teams: Lead the implementation of Data Breach Response Policies and coordinate incident response efforts across departments
• Legal Departments: Draft and review policies to ensure compliance with CERT-In guidelines and Indian data protection laws
• Data Protection Officers: Oversee policy execution and maintain communication with regulatory authorities during breaches
• Department Heads: Ensure their teams understand and follow breach reporting procedures
• External Auditors: Review policies for compliance and effectiveness during security assessments
• Third-party Vendors: Follow breach notification requirements when handling company data

• Incident Classification: Map out different types of data breaches your organization might face and required response levels
• Response Team Structure: Define key roles, responsibilities, and contact details for your incident response team
• Reporting Timeline: Document CERT-In's 6-hour notification requirement and internal escalation procedures
• Data Inventory: Create a comprehensive list of sensitive data types your organization handles
• Communication Templates: Prepare notification drafts for authorities, affected individuals, and media
• Recovery Procedures: Detail steps for system restoration, evidence preservation, and post-incident analysis
• Legal Requirements: Include relevant sections from IT Act 2000 and data protection regulations

• Scope and Purpose: Clear definition of what constitutes a data breach under Indian law and policy objectives
• Legal Framework: References to IT Act 2000, CERT-In guidelines, and applicable data protection regulations
• Breach Classification: Categories of incidents requiring different response levels and reporting timelines
• Response Procedures: Step-by-step protocols aligned with CERT-In's 6-hour notification requirement
• Team Responsibilities: Clearly defined roles for incident response team members
• Documentation Requirements: Templates for mandatory breach reports and stakeholder communications
• Review Mechanism: Schedule for policy updates and compliance assessments
• Enforcement Measures: Consequences for non-compliance with policy procedures

While both documents address data security incidents, a Data Breach Response Policy differs significantly from a Data Breach Notification Procedure in several key ways. The policy provides the overall framework and strategy, while the procedure focuses specifically on communication protocols.

• Scope and Coverage: The policy outlines comprehensive incident handling, including prevention, detection, and recovery strategies. The notification procedure solely details the steps for informing stakeholders and authorities.
• Legal Framework: The policy addresses broader compliance with IT Act 2000 and data protection laws, while the procedure specifically aligns with CERT-In's 6-hour notification requirements.
• Implementation Level: The policy requires board-level approval and organizational buy-in, whereas the procedure serves as an operational document for the incident response team.
• Review Cycle: Policies typically undergo annual reviews with formal approval processes, while procedures can be updated more frequently to reflect changing notification requirements.