IR 7 Incident Response Assistance

---
name: "IR-7_incident-response-assistance"
description: "Provide an incident response support resource, integral to the organizational incident response capability, that offers advice and assistance to users"
category: "configuration"
version: "5.2.0"
author: "cyberstrike-official"
tags:
  - nist
  - sp800-53
  - rev5
  - ir-7
  - ir
tech_stack:
  - any
cwe_ids: []
chains_with:
  - AT-2
  - AT-3
  - IR-4
  - IR-6
  - IR-8
  - PM-22
  - PM-26
  - SA-9
  - SI-18
prerequisites: []
severity_boost:
  AT-2: "Chain with AT-2 for comprehensive security coverage"
  AT-3: "Chain with AT-3 for comprehensive security coverage"
  IR-4: "Chain with IR-4 for comprehensive security coverage"
---

# IR-7 Incident Response Assistance

## High-Level Description

**Family:** Incident Response (IR)
**Framework:** NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5

Incident response support resources provided by organizations include help desks, assistance groups, automated ticketing systems to open and track incident response tickets, and access to forensics services or consumer redress services, when required.

## What to Check

- [ ] Verify IR-7 Incident Response Assistance is documented in SSP
- [ ] Confirm control is operating effectively
- [ ] Review evidence of continuous monitoring for IR-7

## How to Test

### Step 1: Review Documentation

Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for IR-7 implementation details. Verify the organization has documented how this control is satisfied.

### Step 2: Validate Implementation

```
# For cloud environments, use cloud-audit-mcp tools
# For on-premises, review system configurations directly

# Example: Check if account management policies exist
grep -r "account.management\|access.control" /etc/security/ 2>/dev/null
```

### Step 3: Test Operating Effectiveness

Verify the control is actively functioning, not just documented. Check logs, configurations, and operational evidence.

## Tools

| Tool          | Purpose                           | Usage |
| ------------- | --------------------------------- | ----- |
| Manual Review | Documentation and interview-based | N/A   |

## Remediation Guide

### Control Statement

Provide an incident response support resource, integral to the organizational incident response capability, that offers advice and assistance to users of the system for the handling and reporting of incidents.

### Implementation Guidance

Incident response support resources provided by organizations include help desks, assistance groups, automated ticketing systems to open and track incident response tickets, and access to forensics services or consumer redress services, when required.

## Risk Assessment

| Finding                                           | Severity | Impact                       |
| ------------------------------------------------- | -------- | ---------------------------- |
| IR-7 Incident Response Assistance not implemented | Medium   | Incident Response            |
| IR-7 partially implemented                        | Low      | Incomplete Incident Response |

## CWE Categories

| CWE ID | Title                 |
| ------ | --------------------- |
| N/A    | No direct CWE mapping |

## References

- [NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 - IR-7](https://csrc.nist.gov/projects/cprt/catalog#/cprt/framework/version/SP_800_53_5_1_1/home?element=ir-7)
- [NIST SP 800-53A Rev 5 (Assessment Procedures)](https://csrc.nist.gov/pubs/sp/800/53/a/r5/final)
- [NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 Full Catalog](https://csrc.nist.gov/pubs/sp/800/53/r5/upd1/final)

## Checklist

- [ ] Control documented in SSP
- [ ] Implementation evidence collected
- [ ] Operating effectiveness validated
- [ ] Continuous monitoring in place
- [ ] Related controls (AT-2, AT-3, IR-4, IR-6, IR-8) reviewed