Building Ransomware Playbook with CISA Framework

When to Use

• An organization needs to create or update its ransomware incident response playbook following CISA guidelines
• A security team is conducting a ransomware readiness assessment against the CISA StopRansomware framework
• Compliance requires documenting ransomware response procedures aligned with NIST CSF and CISA recommendations
• During tabletop exercises to validate that the organization's ransomware response steps match industry best practices
• After a ransomware incident to update the playbook with lessons learned and close identified gaps

Do not use as a substitute for legal counsel regarding ransom payment decisions, breach notification timelines, or regulatory obligations specific to your jurisdiction.

Prerequisites

• Familiarity with the CISA StopRansomware Guide (cisa.gov/stopransomware/ransomware-guide)
• NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) understanding (Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, Recover)
• Inventory of critical assets, backup infrastructure, and communication channels
• Defined roles and responsibilities for incident response team members
• Python 3.8+ for playbook generation and compliance checking automation