RFC 2350 — Expectations for Computer Security Incident Response (BCP 21)
RFC 2350 (BCP 21, 1998, updated by RFC 7942) describes the expectations of the Internet community regarding Computer Security Incident Response Teams (CSIRTs). It defines what a CSIRT should communicate about itself: mission, constituency, authority, policies, services, reporting procedures, and operating procedures. The RFC established the standard template for CSIRT descriptions still used today by incident response teams worldwide. Complemented by RFC 7970 (IODEF — Incident Object Description Exchange Format), RFC 8134 (Management Incident Lightweight Exchange), and RFC 9424 (Indicators of Compromise).
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Framework Domains (5)
Section 1 - Document Information
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| RFC2350-1.1 | Date of Last Update |
| RFC2350-1.2 | Distribution List for Notifications |
| RFC2350-1.3 | Document Locations |
Section 2 - Contact Information
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| RFC2350-2.1 | Team Identification |
| RFC2350-2.2 | Communication Channels |
| RFC2350-2.3 | Public Keys and Encryption |
| RFC2350-2.4 | Points of Customer Contact |
Section 3 - Charter
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| RFC2350-3.1 | Mission Statement |
| RFC2350-3.2 | Constituency |
| RFC2350-3.3 | Sponsorship and Affiliation |
| RFC2350-3.4 | Authority |
Section 4 - Policies
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| RFC2350-4.1 | Types of Incidents and Level of Support |
| RFC2350-4.2 | Cooperation and Disclosure |
| RFC2350-4.3 | Communication and Authentication |
Section 5 - Services
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| RFC2350-5.1 | Incident Triage |
| RFC2350-5.2 | Incident Coordination |
| RFC2350-5.3 | Incident Resolution |
| RFC2350-5.4 | Proactive Activities |
Maps to 557 other frameworks
Frequently Asked Questions
What is RFC 2350 — Expectations for Computer Security Incident Response (BCP 21)?
RFC 2350 — Expectations for Computer Security Incident Response (BCP 21) is a compliance framework from International (IETF) with 5 domains and 18 controls. RFC 2350 (BCP 21, 1998, updated by RFC 7942) describes the expectations of the Internet community regarding Computer Security Incident Response Teams (CSIRTs). It defines what a CSIRT should communicate about itself: mission, constituency, authority, policies, services, reporting procedures, and operating procedures. The RFC established the standard template for CSIRT descriptions still used today by incident response teams worldwide. Complemented by RFC 7970 (IODEF — Incident Object Description Exchange Format), RFC 8134 (Management Incident Lightweight Exchange), and RFC 9424 (Indicators of Compromise). It is used by organisations to establish and maintain compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
How many controls does RFC 2350 — Expectations for Computer Security Incident Response (BCP 21) have?
RFC 2350 — Expectations for Computer Security Incident Response (BCP 21) has 18 controls organised across 5 domains. The largest domains are Section 2 - Contact Information (4 controls), Section 3 - Charter (4 controls), Section 5 - Services (4 controls). Each control defines specific requirements that organisations must implement to achieve compliance.
What frameworks does RFC 2350 — Expectations for Computer Security Incident Response (BCP 21) map to?
RFC 2350 — Expectations for Computer Security Incident Response (BCP 21) maps to 557 other compliance frameworks. The top mapping partners are ISO/IEC 27400:2022 (44% coverage), FAA Cybersecurity Framework for Aviation (44% coverage), TISAX — Trusted Information Security Assessment Exchange (44% coverage). Use our comparison tool to explore control-level mappings between frameworks.
How do I get started with RFC 2350 — Expectations for Computer Security Incident Response (BCP 21) compliance?
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