Purpose

This Incident Response Policy is designed to ensure that MailSlurp can respond promptly and effectively to security incidents, breaches, or service disruptions. Our goal is to minimize impact, protect sensitive data, and restore normal operations while maintaining compliance with industry regulations and enterprise SaaS best practices.

Scope

This policy applies to all MailSlurp systems, networks, applications, and data. It covers all employees, contractors, and third-party service providers responsible for detecting, reporting, and responding to security incidents.

Roles and Responsibilities

  • Incident Response Team (IRT):
    A dedicated team responsible for executing the incident response plan. The IRT includes representatives from Security, Operations, IT, and Compliance.
  • Incident Manager:
    Oversees the incident response process, coordinates team efforts, and communicates with executive management.
  • Technical Investigators:
    Conduct detailed analysis of incidents, including root cause analysis, and recommend remediation actions.
  • Communications Officer:
    Manages internal and external communications during incidents, ensuring that stakeholders and affected customers receive timely, accurate information.
  • Legal and Compliance:
    Ensures all incident response activities comply with applicable laws, regulations, and internal policies.

Incident Response Phases

  1. Preparation

    • Develop and maintain an up-to-date incident response plan.
    • Conduct regular training and simulation exercises to prepare staff for potential incidents.
    • Implement continuous monitoring, logging, and alerting systems to detect suspicious activity.

  2. Detection and Analysis

    • Utilize automated detection tools (e.g., SIEM, IDS/IPS) to identify potential security events.
    • Validate alerts and determine the scope, severity, and potential impact of the incident.
    • Document initial findings and notify the Incident Manager.

  3. Containment

    • Immediately isolate affected systems to limit further damage.
    • Apply both short-term and long-term containment strategies based on the nature of the incident.
    • Protect sensitive data by restricting access during the containment phase.

  4. Eradication and Remediation

    • Identify and eliminate the root cause of the incident.
    • Remove malicious artifacts, apply necessary patches, and update security configurations.
    • Document all remediation actions and verify that vulnerabilities have been addressed.

  5. Recovery

    • Restore systems and services to normal operations in a controlled manner.
    • Monitor restored systems to ensure stability and confirm that the incident has been fully resolved.
    • Validate that all systems meet security and compliance requirements post-recovery.

  6. Post-Incident Review

    • Conduct a comprehensive review to determine the effectiveness of the incident response.
    • Document lessons learned, including any process improvements needed.
    • Update the incident response plan and relevant security policies accordingly.

Communication and Reporting

  • Internal Communication:
    • Provide timely updates to senior management and relevant teams during an incident.
    • Use established channels for secure communication and incident status reporting.
  • External Communication:
    • Notify affected customers and stakeholders as required by regulatory obligations and contractual commitments.
    • Coordinate with Legal and Compliance to ensure that all external communications are accurate and legally compliant.
  • Documentation:
    • Maintain detailed records of the incident, including timelines, actions taken, and outcomes.
    • Store incident reports securely for future audit and compliance reviews.

Enterprise SaaS Best Practices

  • Automated Monitoring and Alerting:
    Implement advanced monitoring tools to ensure real-time detection of threats.
  • Regular Security Training:
    Provide ongoing training for all staff to recognize, report, and respond to security incidents.
  • Simulated Incident Exercises:
    Conduct regular tabletop exercises and simulations to test and refine our incident response capabilities.
  • DevOps Integration:
    Integrate incident response protocols within the CI/CD pipeline to minimize downtime and expedite recovery.
  • Continuous Improvement:
    Use post-incident reviews to continuously update and improve the incident response process, aligning with evolving threat landscapes and compliance requirements.

Compliance and Enforcement

MailSlurp adheres to industry standards and regulatory requirements for incident response. Non-compliance with this policy may result in disciplinary actions, up to and including termination for employees, or contractual penalties for third-party providers.

Approved by: Jack Mahoney, CTO
Approval Date: January 15, 2025
Next Review Date: January 15, 2026