A tailored course, built for your situation
Modern Incident Response Playbooks for Mid-Market Operations
Implementation-grade frameworks for security and operations teams scaling resilience
$199 one-time
24-hour access provisioning
30-day money-back guarantee
Hand-built implementation playbook
12 modules. 12 chapters per module. 144 chapters total.
12 modules, each with 12 chapters (144 chapters total), text-based, plus downloadable templates and a hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access.
Incident response in mid-market environments often relies on outdated checklists and ad-hoc coordination, leading to delayed containment and compliance exposure.
The situation this course is for
Mid-market teams face growing attack surfaces but lack the staff and systems of enterprise security operations. Generic playbooks don't account for limited headcount, blended roles, or budget constraints, resulting in inconsistent responses and audit findings.
Who this is for
Security analysts, IT operations leads, compliance officers, and risk managers in organizations with 200, 2,000 employees who own or contribute to incident response planning and execution.
Who this is not for
Enterprise security executives with dedicated SOCs, consultants selling incident response services, or individuals seeking certification prep or technical threat-hunting labs.
What you walk away with
- Design and deploy incident playbooks tailored to mid-market staffing and tooling limits
- Standardize response workflows across phishing, ransomware, data exfiltration, and insider threats
- Align incident documentation with compliance requirements (e.g., NIST, ISO 27001, CMMC)
- Reduce mean time to contain through pre-built escalation paths and role-based action triggers
- Turn post-incident reviews into continuous improvement cycles with measurable benchmarks
The 12 modules (with all 144 chapters)
Module 1. Foundations of Mid-Market Incident Response
Establish core principles, team structures, and playbook objectives aligned with resource realities.
12 chapters in this module
- Defining incident response in the mid-market context
- Key differences from enterprise SOC models
- Balancing speed, accuracy, and compliance
- Common constraints: staffing, tools, budgets
- Core roles: who does what during incidents
- Incident severity classification frameworks
- Integrating with existing IT and security policies
- Measuring playbook effectiveness
- Regulatory landscape overview
- Building executive support
- Incident response lifecycle basics
- Playbook ownership and maintenance
Module 2. Playbook Design and Structure
Create modular, actionable playbooks with clear decision trees and escalation paths.
12 chapters in this module
- Modular playbook architecture
- Using flowcharts and decision matrices
- Defining trigger conditions
- Role-based action assignments
- Time-bound response stages
- Integrating with ticketing systems
- Version control and change tracking
- Documenting assumptions and limitations
- Creating runbook summaries
- Localization for regional compliance
- Accessibility and readability standards
- Testing structural integrity
Module 3. Phishing and Social Engineering Response
Respond to credential theft and user compromise with rapid containment and user education loops.
12 chapters in this module
- Identifying phishing attack indicators
- Email header analysis basics
- Isolating compromised accounts
- Password reset protocols
- Endpoint scanning procedures
- User notification templates
- Reporting to email providers
- Simulated phishing follow-up
- Integrating with security awareness training
- Tracking repeat victim patterns
- Legal and privacy considerations
- Post-incident communication plans
Module 4. Ransomware Containment and Recovery
Execute fast isolation, assess impact, and restore operations without paying ransoms.
12 chapters in this module
- Recognizing ransomware behaviors
- Network segmentation verification
- Shutting down lateral movement
- Identifying patient zero
- Assessing backup integrity
- Engaging legal and PR teams
- Law enforcement reporting protocols
- Restoration sequencing
- Decryption alternatives
- Third-party vendor coordination
- Business continuity activation
- Post-event system hardening
Module 5. Data Exfiltration and Insider Threats
Detect and respond to unauthorized data transfers and malicious internal actors.
12 chapters in this module
- Identifying unusual data access patterns
- Reviewing DLP alerts
- User behavior analytics integration
- Preserving logs and artifacts
- Conducting discreet investigations
- HR and legal coordination
- Device and account lockdown
- Exit interview protocols
- Monitoring for data leaks online
- Handling accidental vs. malicious exposure
- Rebuilding trust post-incident
- Updating access controls
Module 6. Cloud and SaaS Incident Handling
Manage security events in cloud environments and third-party applications.
12 chapters in this module
- Shared responsibility model review
- AWS, Azure, GCP incident basics
- SaaS app compromise (e.g., O365, GSuite)
- API key and token revocation
- Cloud log collection
- Tenant isolation checks
- Vendor SLA enforcement
- Multi-cloud coordination
- Cloud configuration rollback
- SaaS user provisioning audits
- Cloud-native detection tools
- Recovery in hybrid environments
Module 7. Endpoint Detection and Response
Leverage EDR tools for rapid identification and remediation on workstations and servers.
12 chapters in this module
- EDR alert triage
- Process tree analysis
- File hash reputation checks
- Memory scanning techniques
- Quarantine workflows
- Remote containment commands
- EDR policy tuning
- Handling false positives
- Offline endpoint procedures
- Firmware-level threats
- Integration with SIEM
- Updating EDR signatures
Module 8. Network Intrusion Response
Detect and neutralize unauthorized access within internal and perimeter networks.
12 chapters in this module
- Analyzing firewall logs
- Identifying port scanning
- Detecting C2 beaconing
- Blocking malicious IPs
- Network traffic baselining
- Packet capture basics
- DNS tunneling detection
- VPN compromise handling
- WAF alert response
- Segmentation failure response
- Router and switch hardening
- Post-intrusion network validation
Module 9. Compliance and Audit Alignment
Ensure incident response activities meet regulatory and audit requirements.
12 chapters in this module
- Mapping playbooks to NIST CSF
- Aligning with ISO 27001 controls
- CMMC incident reporting rules
- HIPAA breach notification timelines
- GDPR data breach obligations
- SOC 2 incident documentation
- Creating audit-ready logs
- Incident disclosure policies
- Regulator communication templates
- Third-party auditor coordination
- Retention of incident records
- Continuous compliance monitoring
Module 10. Cross-Functional Coordination
Orchestrate response efforts across IT, legal, HR, PR, and executive teams.
12 chapters in this module
- Defining communication channels
- Creating incident war rooms
- Status update cadence
- Legal counsel engagement
- HR involvement in insider cases
- PR and media response planning
- Executive briefing templates
- Vendor and partner notifications
- Customer communication strategies
- Insurance claim documentation
- Post-incident board reporting
- Debriefing non-security teams
Module 11. Post-Incident Review and Improvement
Turn every incident into a structured learning opportunity.
12 chapters in this module
- Scheduling post-mortems
- Blameless review facilitation
- Root cause analysis methods
- Identifying process gaps
- Updating playbooks with lessons learned
- Measuring MTTR improvements
- Sharing insights across teams
- Creating improvement backlogs
- Tracking action item completion
- Benchmarking against industry standards
- Celebrating response successes
- Archiving incident records
Module 12. Scaling and Automating Response
Introduce automation and orchestration to extend team capacity.
12 chapters in this module
- Identifying automation candidates
- SOAR platform basics
- Playbook scripting fundamentals
- Automated alert enrichment
- Auto-quarantine rules
- Ticket creation automation
- Email notification bots
- Scheduled playbook validation
- Testing automation safely
- Monitoring automated workflows
- Documentation for automated steps
- Governance of automation changes
How this maps to your situation
- Responding to a phishing campaign targeting staff
- Containing ransomware across hybrid infrastructure
- Investigating potential data theft by a departing employee
- Meeting compliance audit requirements after a security event
Before vs. after
Before
Incident response is reactive, inconsistent, and dependent on individual heroics, with limited documentation and audit readiness.
After
Response is predictable, team-wide, and compliant, with clear procedures, reusable templates, and continuous improvement cycles.
What's included with your purchase
- 12 modules with 12 chapters each (144 chapters)
- Downloadable templates and worked examples for every module
- Hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Delivery and format
- Course and learning environment access provisioned within 24 hours of purchase
- Hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access
Format: Text-based modules and chapters in the Art of Service learning environment, plus downloadable templates and worked examples for every chapter, plus the hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access.
Time investment: Approximately 45, 60 hours total, designed for completion in 8, 12 weeks with weekly module pacing.
If nothing changes
Without structured playbooks, mid-market teams risk prolonged outages, regulatory penalties, and eroded stakeholder trust when incidents occur.
How this compares to the alternatives
Unlike generic cybersecurity courses or enterprise-focused SOC training, this program is built exclusively for mid-market constraints, offering realistic staffing models, affordable tool integrations, and compliance alignment without requiring a large security team.
Frequently asked
Who is this course designed for?
Security analysts, IT operations leads, compliance officers, and risk managers in mid-market organizations who are responsible for incident response planning and execution.
How is the course structured?
12 modules, each containing 12 chapters (144 chapters total).
Is there a certificate upon completion?
Yes, a certificate of completion is awarded after finishing all modules and passing the final assessment.
$199 one-time. Approximately 45, 60 hours total, designed for completion in 8, 12 weeks with weekly module pacing..
Within 24 hours your account in the learning environment is provisioned and the tailored implementation playbook is delivered alongside it.
30-day money-back guarantee·
144 chapters·
Hand-built playbook included·
Account access within 24 hours