From 3ee714cf6ef063b93fa6ed61daae6625aa062510 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: "google-labs-jules[bot]" <161369871+google-labs-jules[bot]@users.noreply.github.com> Date: Wed, 13 May 2026 15:17:07 +0000 Subject: [PATCH 1/3] Create Risk Register Management runbook Created `rules_bank/run_books/risk_register.md` to define the structure, lifecycle, and operational workflow for managing a Risk Register in a SecOps environment, addressing issue #29. Also updated `rules_bank/LLMS-SITEMAP.md` to reference the new runbook. Co-authored-by: dandye <121151+dandye@users.noreply.github.com> --- rules_bank/LLMS-SITEMAP.md | 1 + rules_bank/run_books/risk_register.md | 106 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2 files changed, 107 insertions(+) create mode 100644 rules_bank/run_books/risk_register.md diff --git a/rules_bank/LLMS-SITEMAP.md b/rules_bank/LLMS-SITEMAP.md index 01810a4..6655248 100644 --- a/rules_bank/LLMS-SITEMAP.md +++ b/rules_bank/LLMS-SITEMAP.md @@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ rules_bank/ ├── [DOC] post_incident_review.md ├── [DOC] prioritize_and_investigate_a_case.md ├── [DOC] proactive_threat_hunting_based_on_gti_campain_or_actor.md + ├── [DOC] risk_register.md [HIGH] ├── [DOC] suspicious_login_triage.md -> references: common_steps/enrich_ioc.md ├── [DOC] triage_alerts.md [HIGH] -> references: common_steps/check_duplicate_cases.md └── [DOC] ueba_report.md [PLACEHOLDER] diff --git a/rules_bank/run_books/risk_register.md b/rules_bank/run_books/risk_register.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..16dd84f --- /dev/null +++ b/rules_bank/run_books/risk_register.md @@ -0,0 +1,106 @@ +--- +title: "Risk Register Management" +type: "runbook" +category: "security_operations" +status: "active" +tags: + - risk_management + - compliance + - governance + - strategic_planning +--- + +# Risk Register Management + +In security operations (SecOps) and broader information security, a **Risk Register** is a centralized, living document or database used to identify, evaluate, track, and manage security risks across an organization. +If your SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) and security alerts deal with the *immediate tactical reality* (e.g., "Active brute-force attack on Port 22"), the Risk Register deals with the *strategic business reality* (e.g., "Legacy authentication systems lack MFA, creating a high probability of credential stuffing"). +It acts as the bridge between technical vulnerabilities and business impact, allowing security teams to prioritize what gets fixed first based on data rather than gut feeling. + +## Objective + +To define the structure, lifecycle, and operational workflow for managing a Risk Register in a SecOps environment, ensuring risks are systematically identified, assessed, treated, and reviewed. + +## Scope + +This runbook covers the end-to-end lifecycle of tracking security risks—from initial identification through to ongoing review. It applies to all strategic risks impacting the organization's information security posture. + +## Inputs + +* `${NEW_RISK_DATA}`: Details of a newly identified risk (e.g., from threat hunts, audits, pentests). +* `${EXISTING_RISK_ID}`: The ID of an existing risk to be reviewed or updated. +* `${TREATMENT_PLAN}`: The proposed mitigation, acceptance, transfer, or avoidance strategy. + +## Tools + +* `GRC Platform` or `Shared Repository` (to store and update the register). +* `secops-soar` (to track tasks related to risk mitigation). + +## Core Attributes of a Risk Register + +While formats range from a simple shared spreadsheet to dedicated GRC platforms, a functional risk register typically tracks these core attributes: + +| Field | Purpose | Concrete Example | +| :---- | :---- | :---- | +| **Risk ID** | A unique identifier for tracking. | RSK-2026-042 | +| **Description** | Clearly states the threat, vulnerability, and consequence. | Unpatched Apache server in the DMZ could allow remote code execution, leading to customer data exfiltration. | +| **Risk Owner** | The specific person or team accountable for managing the risk. | VP of Infrastructure / SecOps Lead | +| **Inherent Risk** | The raw risk score (Likelihood × Impact) *before* any controls are applied. | **High** (Likelihood: 4/5, Impact: 5/5) | +| **Treatment Plan** | The decision made: Mitigate, Accept, Transfer (insurance), or Avoid. | **Mitigate** via virtual patching, followed by server migration. | +| **Residual Risk** | The remaining risk score *after* implementing the treatment plan. | **Low** (Likelihood: 1/5, Impact: 2/5) | +| **Status & Review** | Current progress and the next scheduled reassessment date. | *In Progress* — Next review: Oct 1, 2026 | + +## Why SecOps Relies on It + +1. **Defends Resource Allocation:** When SecOps needs budget for a new tool or engineering hours to refactor legacy code, pointing to a documented "Critical" risk on the register provides business justification to leadership. +2. **Prevents Alert Fatigue Traps:** A vulnerability scanner might flag 5,000 "high-severity" CVEs. The risk register helps map which of those actually expose critical business assets, filtering the noise. +3. **Maintains Continuity:** If a key security engineer leaves, the organization doesn't lose track of accepted risks or ongoing remediation projects. +4. **Audit & Compliance Proof:** Frameworks like SOC 2, ISO 27001, and NIST explicitly require organizations to prove they have a formalized, repeatable process for tracking and treating risk. + +## Workflow Steps & Diagram + +A risk register follows a continuous loop: + +1. **Identification:** Spot a new risk via threat hunting, penetration tests, vendor disclosures, or internal audits. +2. **Assessment:** Score the risk using a standardized framework (like NIST SP 800-30 or FAIR) to keep scoring objective. +3. **Treatment:** Assign and take action (Mitigate, Accept, Transfer, Avoid). +4. **Review:** Reassess risks quarterly or annually to ensure mitigation controls are still holding up. + +```mermaid +sequenceDiagram + participant Analyst as Analyst/Agent + participant GRC as GRC Platform/Register + participant Owner as Risk Owner + + Analyst->>Analyst: 1. Identification (Threat Hunt, Audit, etc.) + Analyst->>GRC: 2. Create Risk Entry with Description + Analyst->>Analyst: 3. Assessment (Score Inherent Risk) + Analyst->>GRC: 4. Update Risk Entry with Score + Analyst->>Owner: 5. Assign Risk + Owner->>Owner: 6. Determine Treatment Plan + Owner->>GRC: 7. Update Treatment & Residual Risk + loop Periodic Review + Analyst->>GRC: 8. Review Risk Status + Analyst->>Analyst: 9. Reassess Controls + Analyst->>GRC: 10. Update Next Review Date + end +``` + +## Completion Criteria + +* The risk has been fully documented with all required attributes (ID, Description, Owner, Inherent Risk, Treatment Plan, Residual Risk, Status & Review). +* The risk has been accurately recorded in the central Risk Register. +* A review schedule has been established and noted. +* The agent generates an execution timestamp and runtime metrics summary upon completion. + +## Rubric + +**Error Handling & Resilience:** +- Did the agent gracefully handle situations where risk data was incomplete (e.g., missing impact scores) by requesting clarification rather than hallucinating values? + +**Process Adherence:** +- Did the agent properly evaluate the risk through the full Identification, Assessment, Treatment, and Review lifecycle? +- Were the core attributes (Risk ID, Description, Owner, Scores) correctly mapped and populated? + +**Output Verification:** +- Did the agent generate the Mermaid sequence diagram mapping the execution workflow? +- Were execution timestamp and runtime metrics logged in the final output? \ No newline at end of file From 7f1cf3f0bd0d64e0f39c47492a598cf4472a826c Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: DanDye Date: Wed, 13 May 2026 15:15:40 -0400 Subject: [PATCH 2/3] Apply suggestion from @gemini-code-assist[bot] Co-authored-by: gemini-code-assist[bot] <176961590+gemini-code-assist[bot]@users.noreply.github.com> --- rules_bank/run_books/risk_register.md | 6 +++--- 1 file changed, 3 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-) diff --git a/rules_bank/run_books/risk_register.md b/rules_bank/run_books/risk_register.md index 16dd84f..280c8db 100644 --- a/rules_bank/run_books/risk_register.md +++ b/rules_bank/run_books/risk_register.md @@ -60,9 +60,9 @@ While formats range from a simple shared spreadsheet to dedicated GRC platforms, A risk register follows a continuous loop: -1. **Identification:** Spot a new risk via threat hunting, penetration tests, vendor disclosures, or internal audits. -2. **Assessment:** Score the risk using a standardized framework (like NIST SP 800-30 or FAIR) to keep scoring objective. -3. **Treatment:** Assign and take action (Mitigate, Accept, Transfer, Avoid). +1. **Identification:** Spot a new risk via threat hunting, penetration tests, vendor disclosures, or internal audits. If `${NEW_RISK_DATA}` is provided, use it as the primary source for the entry. +2. **Assessment:** Score the risk using a standardized framework (like NIST SP 800-30 or FAIR) to keep scoring objective. If `${EXISTING_RISK_ID}` is provided, retrieve the current record for reassessment. +3. **Treatment:** Assign and take action (Mitigate, Accept, Transfer, Avoid). Incorporate the `${TREATMENT_PLAN}` if one has been proposed. 4. **Review:** Reassess risks quarterly or annually to ensure mitigation controls are still holding up. ```mermaid From 169cabbab8c11df302f9d5f7c5e0ae57534a2b08 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: DanDye Date: Wed, 13 May 2026 15:26:54 -0400 Subject: [PATCH 3/3] Apply suggestion from @gemini-code-assist[bot] Co-authored-by: gemini-code-assist[bot] <176961590+gemini-code-assist[bot]@users.noreply.github.com> --- rules_bank/LLMS-SITEMAP.md | 2 +- 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/rules_bank/LLMS-SITEMAP.md b/rules_bank/LLMS-SITEMAP.md index 6655248..4e18daa 100644 --- a/rules_bank/LLMS-SITEMAP.md +++ b/rules_bank/LLMS-SITEMAP.md @@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ rules_bank/ ├── [DOC] post_incident_review.md ├── [DOC] prioritize_and_investigate_a_case.md ├── [DOC] proactive_threat_hunting_based_on_gti_campain_or_actor.md - ├── [DOC] risk_register.md [HIGH] + ├── [DOC] risk_register.md [HIGH] -> references: common_steps/document_in_soar.md ├── [DOC] suspicious_login_triage.md -> references: common_steps/enrich_ioc.md ├── [DOC] triage_alerts.md [HIGH] -> references: common_steps/check_duplicate_cases.md └── [DOC] ueba_report.md [PLACEHOLDER]