NIST 800-53 IR-9 Information Spillage Response

An information spill happens when data ends up on a system that is not authorized to process it. IR-9 gives a response sequence for it.

800-53 binds US federal systems and contract holders, and the spill language comes from classified and sensitive environments. In other companies the same pattern applies to customer data pasted into a public tool, or production data copied to a test system.

What the control asks

Respond to spills by:

• Assigning personnel with responsibility for the response.
• Identifying the specific information involved.
• Alerting designated people using a communication method not associated with the spill.
• Isolating the contaminated system or component.
• Eradicating the information from it.
• Identifying other systems that may have been contaminated afterward.
• Performing any additional actions you define.

NIST adds that the alert should avoid methods tied to the spill, so contamination does not spread before it is isolated.

Evidence to collect

• A spill procedure naming the responsible role.
• An out of band contact method, such as a phone tree.
• A completed example or tabletop record.
• Enhancements, where adopted: IR-9.1 Responsible Personnel, IR-9.2 Training, IR-9.3 Post-spill Operations and IR-9.4 Exposure to Unauthorized Personnel.

Common gaps

Announcing the spill in the same chat where the data sits. No way to find copies in backups or search indexes.

Quick check

Sources

• NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 IR-9 on CSRC
• NIST OSCAL catalog for SP 800-53 Rev 5