# NIST 800-171 3.6.1 Establish an operational incident-handling capability for organizational systems that includes preparation, detection, analysis, containment, recovery, and user response activities.

- Source: https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions/articles/62000229301-nist-800-171-3-6-1-establish-an-operational-incident-handling-capability-for-organizational-systems-t
- Section: [Solutions](https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions) › [NIST](https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions/62000112528) › [800-171](https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions/folders/62000168440)
- Last updated: 2026-05-29
- Publisher: iCompaas, Inc. (https://www.icompaas.com)

**Description:**   

Organizations recognize that incident handling capability is dependent on the capabilities of organizational systems and the mission/business processes being supported by those systems. Organizations consider incident handling as part of the definition, design, and development of mission/business processes and systems. Incident-related information can be obtained from a variety of sources including audit monitoring, network monitoring, physical access monitoring, user and administrator reports, and reported supply chain events. Effective incident handling capability includes coordination among many organizational entities including mission/business owners, system owners, authorizing officials, human resources offices, physical and personnel security offices, legal departments, operations personnel, procurement offices, and the risk executive.  As part of user response activities, incident response training is provided by organizations and is linked directly to the assigned roles and responsibilities of organizational personnel to ensure that the appropriate content and level of detail is included in such training. For example, regular users may only need to know who to call or how to recognize an incident on the system; system administrators may require additional training on how to handle or remediate incidents; and incident responders may receive more specific training on forensics, reporting, system recovery, and restoration. Incident response training includes user training in the identification/reporting of suspicious activities from external and internal sources. User response activities also includes incident response assistance which may consist of help desk support, assistance groups, and access to forensics services or consumer redress services, when required.  \[SP 800-6\] provides guidance on incident handling. \[SP 800-86\] and \[SP 800-0\] provide guidance on integrating forensic techniques into incident response. \[SP 800-6\] provides guidance on supply chain risk management.

  

**Priority**: High  

  

**Category**: Incident Response Operations 

  

**Services Associated with AWS:**  

-   AWS Security Hub, AWS Incident Manager 

  

**Objective Evidence:**   

-   Administrative: documented policies, standards & procedures
-   Administrative: supporting documentation of role-based security training being performed
-   Administrative: supporting documentation of professional competence by individual(s) performing incident response roles
-   Administrative: Incident Response Plan (IRP) practices that cover all phases of incident response operations 

  

Possible Technology Considerations : 

 NA

  

**What needs to be answered :**  

Is there a company incident response policy which specifically outlines requirements for handling of incidents involving CUI? Is an incident handling capability implemented for security incidents that include preparation, detection and analysis, containment, eradication, and recovery? 

-   Operational Incident Handling Capability  
    Description: This check ensures that organizations have established an operational incident-handling capability for their systems. The incident-handling capability includes activities such as preparation, detection, analysis, containment, recovery, and user response. It involves coordination among various organizational entities and the integration of incident response training into the roles and responsibilities of organizational personnel. 

  

**More Details:**   

Incident response system in place for all security and IT related issues in conjunction with IT administration staff

## Related compliance guidance

- [NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5: a practical implementation guide for cloud teams](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/nist-sp-800-53-rev-5): How the 800-53 catalogue, baselines and the Risk Management Framework fit together, and which controls take the most work in the cloud.
- [NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC: a practical guide to protecting CUI in the cloud](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/nist-sp-800-171-rev-3): If the driver is a DoD or federal contract handling CUI, 800-171 (and CMMC) is the scope you actually need.