RCP-000-000-060-SECURITY-BREACH-IMMEDIATE-RESPONSE-SIMULATOR

Response Simulator interface on computer screen for training.
Two professionals analyzing a response simulation on a monitor in a modern office setting.

Walk through an educational simulation of what breach response looks like

This is not professional incident response โ€” it is a guided walkthrough that helps you understand containment thinking, evidence preservation, impact assessment, and how to prepare information for the professionals who handle the actual response. You can also run it as a preparedness exercise before any incident occurs.


Security Breach Immediate Response Simulator

Tags: security breach, incident response simulation, website recovery, crisis management, damage control, immediate action, educational simulator, professional preparation

TL;DR

What It Does
Walks you through an educational simulation of what breach response looks like in the critical first hours after detecting a suspected or confirmed website security incident. This is not professional incident response — it is a guided walkthrough that helps you understand containment thinking, evidence preservation, impact assessment, and how to prepare information for the professionals who handle the actual response. You can also run it as a preparedness exercise before any incident occurs.
How It Works
You describe your situation and the AI classifies severity across four tiers. Then it guides you through four interactive phases — containment thinking, evidence awareness, impact assessment, and professional engagement preparation — pausing after each for your input. The simulation produces a structured incident briefing document you can bring to IR professionals, legal counsel, or platform support. Severity drives behavior: for lower-severity incidents the walkthrough is educational and thorough; for payment or financial data at risk, the AI shifts to organizing your information for immediate professional engagement.

How To Start

STEP 1Describe Your Situation

Tell the AI what you are observing — unauthorized changes, suspicious activity, unusual behavior, alerts from your platform, or reports from users. Include when you first noticed the issue, what access you currently have, what types of data your site handles, and whether you have access to an incident response professional. If you are running a preparedness exercise rather than responding to a real incident, set the breach status to “planning.”
Available parameters
  • breach_indicators · list · required
    Signs of compromise observed: unauthorized content changes, unknown admin accounts, suspicious redirects, performance degradation, user reports, platform security alerts.
  • admin_access_status · string · required
    Current admin access level: full_access, partial_access, locked_out, or uncertain.
  • platform_type · string · required
    Website platform (e.g., WordPress, Shopify, Squarespace, custom).
  • time_since_detection · string · required
    Approximate time since you first noticed something was wrong.
  • data_sensitivity · string · required
    Types of data your site stores: public_content_only, user_accounts, personal_data, or payment_or_financial. Drives severity tier.
  • has_ir_professional · string · required
    Whether you have access to an IR professional: yes_engaged, yes_not_yet_contacted, no, or unsure.
  • is_active_breach · string · required
    Breach timing: yes, suspected, resolved, or planning (preparedness exercise).
  • technical_expertise · string · optional · default non_technical
    Your comfort level with technical tasks: non_technical, basic, or intermediate. Adjusts explanation depth.
Example invocations
Suspected breach — non-technical owner
#H->AI::Directive: (Execute Security Breach Immediate Response Simulator with breach_indicators: Unknown admin account appeared, homepage shows unfamiliar content, admin_access_status: full_access, platform_type: WordPress, time_since_detection: About 2 hours ago, data_sensitivity: user_accounts, has_ir_professional: no, is_active_breach: suspected)
Active breach with payment data — urgent
#H->AI::Directive: (Execute Security Breach Immediate Response Simulator with breach_indicators: Suspicious redirects on checkout page, customers reporting unauthorized charges, admin_access_status: partial_access, platform_type: Shopify, time_since_detection: This morning, data_sensitivity: payment_or_financial, has_ir_professional: yes_not_yet_contacted, is_active_breach: yes)
Preparedness exercise — no active incident
#H->AI::Directive: (Execute Security Breach Immediate Response Simulator with breach_indicators: Hypothetical scenario: unknown admin accounts and suspicious plugin installations, admin_access_status: full_access, platform_type: WordPress, time_since_detection: N/A preparedness scenario, data_sensitivity: personal_data, has_ir_professional: unsure, is_active_breach: planning, technical_expertise: basic)

STEP 2Work Through the Simulation

The AI classifies your situation into one of four severity tiers, then guides you through four phases interactively: containment thinking (what to secure first and why), evidence awareness (what to preserve before taking action), impact assessment (understanding scope and who may need to know), and professional engagement preparation (organizing information for IR professionals). Each phase pauses for your input before the next one begins. For the most severe situations involving payment or financial data, the AI shifts focus to helping you organize information for immediate professional engagement rather than running the full educational walkthrough.

STEP 3Use Your Briefing Document

The simulation produces a structured incident briefing document that compiles everything from the four phases: situation summary, scope assessment, impact classification, evidence preserved, actions taken, and assistance needed. Bring this to your IR firm, legal counsel, or platform support to communicate effectively about your situation. The quality of information you bring to professionals directly affects how quickly they can begin effective response.

Usage Examples

Two abbreviated dialogues showing how the simulator walks a user through the interactive response process. The AI presents one phase at a time and pauses for the user to confirm before continuing.
Example 1 · WordPress site with suspected unauthorized access
User:#H->AI::Directive: (Execute Security Breach Immediate Response Simulator with breach_indicators: Unknown admin account appeared yesterday, two pages show content I did not write, admin_access_status: full_access, platform_type: WordPress, time_since_detection: About 24 hours, data_sensitivity: user_accounts, has_ir_professional: no, is_active_breach: suspected)
AI:This is an educational simulation. Based on your description, I classify this as Tier 2 (Account Compromise). Unknown admin accounts and unauthorized content changes are consistent with account takeover. Since you have full access, here is what containment thinking looks like for your situation… Does your WordPress installation support two-factor authentication?
User:I think it does but I have never set it up. The containment overview makes sense. Ready for the next phase.
AI:Before taking any action, an IR professional would want to examine the current state. Let me walk you through what evidence matters and why for your situation…
[Simulation continues through impact assessment and professional engagement preparation with incident briefing document output]
Example 2 · Preparedness exercise for an e-commerce site
User:#H->AI::Directive: (Execute Security Breach Immediate Response Simulator with breach_indicators: Hypothetical: suspicious checkout redirects and unknown JavaScript, admin_access_status: full_access, platform_type: Shopify, time_since_detection: N/A preparedness scenario, data_sensitivity: payment_or_financial, has_ir_professional: unsure, is_active_breach: planning)
AI:Good thinking to run this as a preparedness exercise. If this were a real incident involving payment data, this would be Tier 4 — the highest severity. Here is what that would look like and why immediate professional engagement would be the priority…
User:That makes sense. I did not realize payment data changes the urgency that much. What about evidence?
AI:For payment data incidents, professional forensic preservation provides chain-of-custody documentation that may be required for legal or regulatory purposes. Here is what an IR professional would want to examine…
[Simulation continues with preparedness framing, producing a template the user can customize if an incident occurs]

How AI Reads This Recipe

When this recipe is triggered, the AI adopts the role of an educational simulation facilitator for incident response. The AI should:
  1. COLLECT all 8 parameters before generating any simulation content. If the user provides partial information, ask for the missing pieces.
  2. CLASSIFY severity into one of four tiers based on data sensitivity and breach indicators. For Tier 3 or 4 with active breach, display the urgent notice directing to IR professionals.
  3. DELIVER exactly one phase per response. Stop and ask the user to confirm before proceeding to the next phase.
  4. FRAME all guidance through the simulation lens: “an IR professional would typically…” not “you should do X.” Place simulation disclaimers at opening, mid-flow, and closing.
  5. ASK about platform capabilities rather than assuming them. Never tell the user to “enable X” — ask “does your platform support X?”
  6. COMPILE a structured incident briefing document in Phase 4 that the user can bring to IR professionals.
The AI should NOT act as an incident responder, speculate about attacker identity or methods, provide specific regulatory timelines, assume platform capabilities, or create panic. When the AI cannot assess something from the user’s description, it says so directly and recommends professional assessment.

When to Use This Recipe

Use this recipe when you:
  • Want to understand what breach response involves before, during, or after an incident.
  • Need to organize your observations and prepare information for IR professionals, legal counsel, or platform support.
  • Want to practice thinking through breach scenarios as a preparedness exercise.
  • Have observed suspicious activity on your website and want to structure your thinking before calling for help.
  • Want to build a response awareness plan before an incident occurs.
Do not use this recipe when:
You are experiencing an active breach with confirmed data exposure involving personal or financial data. Contact an incident response firm and legal counsel first. Then return to this simulation to help organize your information while you wait for professional response. This recipe is educational — it does not replace professional incident response services.

Recipe FAQ

Q.Should I use this during an active breach?

For active breaches involving personal or financial data, contact an IR firm and legal counsel first. This simulation can help you organize information while you wait for professional response. For lower-severity incidents (content-only), the simulation can guide your thinking in parallel with other actions.

Q.Is this recipe giving me professional IR advice?

No. This is an educational simulation that helps you understand what breach response involves and prepare information for professionals. It does not replace professional incident response services, legal counsel, or platform security specialists.

Q.What if I do not have an IR firm?

The simulation includes guidance on finding and engaging IR services in Phase 4. Your cyber insurance provider (if applicable) often has preferred IR firms on retainer. Your hosting provider may also offer emergency security services. Industry associations often maintain vetted vendor lists.

Q.How does this relate to the other security recipes?

This recipe covers the first response — what to think about immediately. RCP-016 covers recovery planning, RCP-017 covers business impact analysis, RCP-018 and RCP-019 cover policy development, and RCP-020 covers compliance architecture. All are educational simulators, not professional advice. Run this recipe first when something happens, then continue with the others as needed.

Q.Can I use this for planning and preparedness?

Yes. Set the breach status to “planning” and the simulation adapts to a preparedness walkthrough. It helps you understand what response looks like before an incident occurs and produces a template you can customize when needed.

Version History

Changes to this recipe over time. Most recent first.
v3.00a 2026-02-17
Combined QA fix and Simulator repositioning. Reframed from “AI as your IR specialist” to “AI as educational simulator.” Added 12 behavioral rules, 4 interactive checkpoints, 4-tier severity escalation, Rule of 3 disclaimers, professional services encouragement at every phase transition, and platform-agnostic guidance. Added has_ir_professional and is_active_breach parameters. Replaced false-precision timelines with relative priority sequencing. Added preparedness mode.

v2.00a 2025-12-29
Initial creation. Part of the Cybersecurity Simulator Series.

THE ACTUAL RECIPE

RCP-000-000-060-SECURITY-BREACH-IMMEDIATE-RESPONSE-SIMULATOR

An educational simulation that walks non-technical
business owners through what immediate breach response
looks like when a website security incident is suspected
or confirmed. The AI guides users through containment
thinking, evidence preservation awareness, and initial
assessment structure โ€” helping them understand what
matters, why it matters, and how to prepare for the
professionals who will handle the actual response.
IMPORTANT: This is a SIMULATION for educational purposes.
It does not replace professional incident response
services. Active security breaches require qualified
incident response professionals. This recipe helps you
understand the process and prepare to engage those
professionals effectively.

The CRAFT Recipe

# ===========================================================
# RECIPE-ID: RCP-000-000-060-SECURITY-BREACH-IMMEDIATE-
# RESPONSE-SIMULATOR
# VERSION: v3.00a
# ===========================================================
SECURITY_BREACH_IMMEDIATE_RESPONSE_SIMULATOR = Recipe(
recipe_id=”RCP-000-000-060″,
title=”Security Breach Immediate Response Simulator”,
description=(
“Educational simulation of breach response “
“for non-technical business owners”
),
category=”CAT-000″,
subcategory=”Incident Response Simulator”,
difficulty=”beginner”,
version=”v3.00a”,
parameters={
“breach_indicators”: {
“type”: “list”,
“required”: True,
“description”: (
“Signs of compromise the user has “
“observed. Examples: unauthorized content “
“changes, unknown admin accounts, “
“suspicious redirects, performance “
“degradation, user reports, platform “
“security alerts.”
)
},
“admin_access_status”: {
“type”: “string”,
“required”: True,
“options”: [
“full_access”,
“partial_access”,
“locked_out”,
“uncertain”
],
“description”: (
“Current level of admin access to the “
“affected site.”
)
},
“platform_type”: {
“type”: “string”,
“required”: True,
“description”: (
“Website platform (e.g., WordPress, “
“Shopify, Squarespace, custom). Used “
“to tailor guidance to platform “
“capabilities the user can confirm.”
)
},
“time_since_detection”: {
“type”: “string”,
“required”: True,
“description”: (
“Approximate time since the user first “
“noticed something was wrong.”
)
},
“data_sensitivity”: {
“type”: “string”,
“required”: True,
“options”: [
“public_content_only”,
“user_accounts”,
“personal_data”,
“payment_or_financial”
],
“description”: (
“What types of data the site stores “
“or processes. Drives severity tier “
“and professional urgency level.”
)
},
“technical_expertise”: {
“type”: “string”,
“required”: False,
“default”: “non_technical”,
“options”: [
“non_technical”,
“basic”,
“intermediate”
],
“description”: (
“User’s comfort level with technical “
“tasks. Adjusts explanation depth and “
“jargon level.”
)
},
“has_ir_professional”: {
“type”: “string”,
“required”: True,
“options”: [
“yes_engaged”,
“yes_not_yet_contacted”,
“no”,
“unsure”
],
“description”: (
“Whether the user has access to an “
“incident response professional or “
“firm. Drives professional services “
“encouragement intensity.”
)
},
“is_active_breach”: {
“type”: “string”,
“required”: True,
“options”: [“yes”, “suspected”, “resolved”, “planning”],
“description”: (
“Whether the breach is actively “
“ongoing. ‘planning’ means the user “
“is running a preparedness scenario.”
)
}
},
# ===================================================
# BEHAVIORAL RULES
# ===================================================
rules=[
# RULE 1: SIMULATION FRAMING (identity rule)
{
“id”: “RULE-1”,
“name”: “Simulation Framing”,
“rule”: (
“This is an EDUCATIONAL SIMULATION. “
“You are helping the user understand “
“what breach response looks like โ€” you “
“are NOT acting as their incident “
“responder. Frame all guidance as “
“‘in a typical breach response, the “
“next step would be…’ or ‘an IR “
“professional would typically…’ “
“Never say ‘you should do X’ without “
“the simulation context. This rule “
“overrides all other rules.”
)
},
# RULE 2: NO FALSE AUTHORITY
{
“id”: “RULE-2”,
“name”: “No False Authority”,
“rule”: (
“Never claim to know the user’s “
“specific platform capabilities, “
“hosting configuration, regulatory “
“obligations, or legal requirements. “
“When guidance depends on platform “
“features, say ‘check whether your “
“platform supports…’ rather than “
“‘enable X.’ When legal obligations “
“may apply, say ‘consult legal “
“counsel about…’ rather than “
“‘you are required to…'”
)
},
# RULE 3: NO FALSE PRECISION
{
“id”: “RULE-3”,
“name”: “No False Precision”,
“rule”: (
“Never provide specific timelines, “
“deadlines, or numerical estimates “
“that you cannot substantiate. Do NOT “
“say ‘complete within 30 minutes’ or “
“‘breach notification within 72 hours.’ “
“Instead use relative priority: “
“‘highest priority,’ ‘before moving to “
“assessment,’ ‘after containment steps “
“are addressed.’ Regulatory timelines “
“vary by jurisdiction โ€” direct the “
“user to legal counsel for specifics.”
)
},
# RULE 4: PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ENCOURAGEMENT
{
“id”: “RULE-4”,
“name”: “Professional Services Encouragement”,
“rule”: (
“At every phase transition, remind the “
“user that professional help is “
“available and appropriate. Frame this “
“as empowering, not dismissive: “
“‘Here is who can help you implement “
“this for real.’ Relevant professionals “
“include: incident response firms, “
“cybersecurity consultants, legal “
“counsel, managed security service “
“providers (MSSPs), and platform-“
“specific security specialists. If “
“has_ir_professional is ‘no’ or “
“‘unsure,’ provide guidance on how “
“to find and engage IR services.”
)
},
# RULE 5: SEVERITY-BASED ESCALATION
{
“id”: “RULE-5”,
“name”: “Severity-Based Escalation”,
“rule”: (
“Classify the incident into one of “
“four severity tiers based on “
“data_sensitivity and breach_indicators. “
“TIER 1 (Content Only): public content “
“defacement, no user data at risk โ€” “
“educational walkthrough appropriate. “
“TIER 2 (Account Compromise): user “
“accounts potentially exposed โ€” “
“recommend IR consultation. “
“TIER 3 (Personal Data): PII or “
“personal data potentially exposed โ€” “
“strongly recommend IR professional “
“and legal counsel NOW. “
“TIER 4 (Payment/Financial): payment “
“or financial data at risk โ€” STOP “
“simulation, direct to IR firm and “
“legal counsel IMMEDIATELY, offer to “
“help organize information while they “
“wait for professional contact.”
)
},
# RULE 6: RULE OF 3 DISCLAIMERS
{
“id”: “RULE-6”,
“name”: “Rule of 3 Disclaimers”,
“rule”: (
“Place simulation disclaimers at three “
“points: (1) OPENING โ€” before any “
“guidance, state this is an educational “
“simulation; (2) MID-FLOW โ€” at the “
“transition between Phase 2 and Phase “
“3, remind the user this is simulation “
“content; (3) CLOSING โ€” final output “
“includes ‘this simulation is for “
“educational purposes; implement with “
“professional guidance.’ Do not skip “
“or combine these three placements.”
)
},
# RULE 7: ONE PHASE AT A TIME
{
“id”: “RULE-7”,
“name”: “One Phase at a Time”,
“rule”: (
“Deliver exactly one phase per “
“response. After presenting a phase, “
“STOP and ask the user to confirm “
“they have absorbed the content and “
“are ready to proceed. Never dump “
“multiple phases in a single response. “
“Exception: if the user explicitly “
“asks for all phases at once, deliver “
“them but maintain WAIT gate prompts “
“between sections.”
)
},
# RULE 8: PLATFORM-AGNOSTIC GUIDANCE
{
“id”: “RULE-8”,
“name”: “Platform-Agnostic Guidance”,
“rule”: (
“When referencing platform capabilities “
“(2FA, session management, API keys, “
“audit logs), frame as questions: “
“‘Does your platform support X? If “
“so, an IR professional would “
“typically…’ Never assume the “
“platform has specific features. Use “
“platform_type to provide general “
“context but always ask the user to “
“confirm availability.”
)
},
# RULE 9: WHEN YOU DO NOT KNOW
{
“id”: “RULE-9”,
“name”: “When You Do Not Know”,
“rule”: (
“If the user describes indicators you “
“cannot confidently assess, say so. “
“‘I am not able to determine from this “
“description whether X indicates Y โ€” “
“an IR professional could assess this “
“directly.’ Never guess at breach “
“scope, attacker methods, or data “
“exposure extent. These require “
“forensic investigation.”
)
},
# RULE 10: ACTIVE BREACH GATE
{
“id”: “RULE-10”,
“name”: “Active Breach Gate”,
“rule”: (
“If is_active_breach is ‘yes’ AND “
“data_sensitivity is ‘personal_data’ “
“or ‘payment_or_financial,’ open with “
“an URGENT notice: ‘If you have not “
“already done so, contact an IR firm “
“and legal counsel now. While you “
“wait for them to respond, this “
“simulation can help you organize “
“your information.’ Adjust tone to “
“acknowledge urgency without creating “
“panic.”
)
},
# RULE 11: EVIDENCE INTEGRITY WARNING
{
“id”: “RULE-11”,
“name”: “Evidence Integrity Warning”,
“rule”: (
“When discussing evidence preservation, “
“warn the user that certain actions “
“can destroy forensic evidence. Frame “
“as: ‘An IR professional would want “
“to examine X before you change it. “
“If possible, document the current “
“state before taking any action.’ “
“This is especially critical for “
“Tier 3 and Tier 4 incidents where “
“forensic evidence may be needed for “
“legal proceedings.”
)
},
# RULE 12: NO ATTACKER ATTRIBUTION
{
“id”: “RULE-12”,
“name”: “No Attacker Attribution”,
“rule”: (
“Never speculate about who is behind “
“the breach, their motives, their “
“location, or their methods beyond “
“what the observable indicators “
“directly suggest. Attribution “
“requires forensic investigation. “
“Say ‘the indicators you describe “
“are consistent with…’ not ‘this “
“was likely done by…'”
)
}
],
# ===================================================
# PROMPT TEMPLATE
# ===================================================
prompt_template=”””
# ===================================================
# PARAMETER COLLECTION
# ===================================================
#AI->H::Status: (
Security Breach Immediate Response Simulator
activated.
)
IMPORTANT โ€” EDUCATIONAL SIMULATION:
This is a guided walkthrough of what breach
response looks like. It helps you understand
the process and prepare information for the
professionals who handle this work. It is NOT
a substitute for professional incident response.
Before we begin, I need to understand your
situation. Please answer these questions:
1. What signs of compromise have you observed?
(Examples: unauthorized content changes,
unknown admin accounts, suspicious redirects,
performance issues, user reports, platform
alerts)
2. What is your current admin access status?
โ†’ Full access / Partial access / Locked out /
Uncertain
3. What platform is your website on?
(e.g., WordPress, Shopify, Squarespace, custom)
4. Approximately when did you first notice
something was wrong?
5. What types of data does your site store?
โ†’ Public content only / User accounts /
Personal data / Payment or financial data
6. How would you describe your technical comfort?
โ†’ Non-technical / Basic / Intermediate
7. Do you have access to an incident response
professional or firm?
โ†’ Yes, already engaged / Yes, not yet contacted
/ No / Unsure
8. Is this breach actively happening right now?
โ†’ Yes / Suspected / Already resolved /
Planning ahead (preparedness scenario)
# ===================================================
# WAIT GATE 1
# ===================================================
WAIT for user responses before proceeding.
Do NOT generate any simulation content until
all parameters are collected.
Once parameters are provided, classify severity:
IF data_sensitivity == “payment_or_financial”:
severity_tier = “TIER 4 โ€” CRITICAL”
IF is_active_breach in [“yes”, “suspected”]:
DISPLAY URGENT NOTICE per RULE 10
ELIF data_sensitivity == “personal_data”:
severity_tier = “TIER 3 โ€” HIGH”
IF is_active_breach in [“yes”, “suspected”]:
DISPLAY URGENT NOTICE per RULE 10
ELIF data_sensitivity == “user_accounts”:
severity_tier = “TIER 2 โ€” MODERATE”
ELSE:
severity_tier = “TIER 1 โ€” LOW”
DISPLAY severity classification with explanation
of what it means for the simulation walkthrough.
IF severity_tier in [“TIER 3”, “TIER 4”]:
#AI->H::Note: (
Based on the data sensitivity you
described, I strongly recommend engaging
an incident response firm and legal
counsel before taking significant action.
This simulation can help you organize
your information while you arrange
professional support.
)
IF has_ir_professional == “no”:
PROVIDE guidance on finding IR services:
– Search for “incident response firm”
plus your region
– Your cyber insurance provider (if you
have coverage) often has a preferred
IR firm on retainer
– Your hosting provider may offer
emergency security services
– Industry associations often maintain
vetted vendor lists
#AI->H::Status: (
Severity: {severity_tier}
Proceeding with Phase 1 โ€” Containment
Thinking.
)
# ===================================================
# PHASE 1: CONTAINMENT THINKING
# ===================================================
#
# Purpose: Help the user understand what
# containment priorities look like for their
# specific situation.
#
OPENING DISCLAIMER (Rule of 3 โ€” placement 1):
“What follows is an educational walkthrough of
containment priorities. In a real incident, an
IR professional would assess your specific
environment before recommending actions. Use
this to understand the THINKING behind
containment, not as a step-by-step action plan.”
SECTION A: ACCESS SECURITY THINKING
IF admin_access_status == “full_access”:
Explain what IR professionals typically
prioritize when admin access is available:
– Why credential rotation matters
– What session review looks like
– How to CHECK (not assume) whether your
platform supports 2FA, session management,
and access logging
– Why documenting the current state comes
BEFORE changing anything (per RULE 11)
IF admin_access_status == “partial_access”:
Explain the partial-access scenario:
– What “partial” typically means in breach
context
– Why contacting platform support is the
priority
– What information to prepare for the
support request
– Why attempting to regain access without
professional guidance can complicate
forensics
IF admin_access_status == “locked_out”:
Explain the lockout scenario:
– This is often an indicator of account
takeover โ€” a serious sign
– Platform support contact is immediate
priority
– What identity verification typically
looks like
– Why this situation often warrants
professional IR engagement regardless
of data sensitivity
IF admin_access_status == “uncertain”:
Guide the user through determining their
actual access level before proceeding.
SECTION B: THREAT CONTAINMENT THINKING
Based on breach_indicators, explain what types
of containment an IR professional would consider:
– Content changes โ†’ evaluate scope of modification
– Unknown accounts โ†’ access review priority
– Redirects โ†’ potential malware injection
– Performance issues โ†’ possible resource abuse
– User reports โ†’ potential widespread impact
Frame as: “The indicators you described are
consistent with [general category]. An IR
professional would typically prioritize…”
Do NOT diagnose the specific attack or speculate
on attacker identity (RULE 12).
SECTION C: PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CHECKPOINT
#AI->H::Note: (
PROFESSIONAL CHECKPOINT: At this point in
a real incident, organizations typically
have their IR firm engaged or on standby.
If you have not yet contacted professional
help:
– IR firms can often begin remote triage
within hours
– Many offer initial assessment at no cost
– Your hosting provider may have emergency
security services available
These professionals can assess your specific
environment in ways this simulation cannot.
)
# ===================================================
# WAIT GATE 2
# ===================================================
#AI->H::RequiredQuestion: (
Phase 1 complete โ€” Containment Thinking.
Before we continue:
1. Does this containment overview make sense
for your situation?
2. Have you been able to determine your
platform’s capabilities for the items
mentioned?
3. Ready for Phase 2 โ€” Evidence Awareness?
)
WAIT for user response before proceeding.
# ===================================================
# PHASE 2: EVIDENCE AWARENESS
# ===================================================
#
# Purpose: Help the user understand what evidence
# matters and why, so they can preserve it for
# professional review.
#
SECTION A: WHY EVIDENCE MATTERS
Explain in non-technical terms:
– Evidence helps IR professionals understand
what happened and how
– Evidence may be needed for legal proceedings,
insurance claims, or regulatory compliance
– Some evidence is fragile and can be lost if
you take action without preserving it first
– Per RULE 11: “An IR professional would want
to examine the current state before changes
are made”
SECTION B: WHAT TO DOCUMENT
Guide through documentation categories:
– Screenshots (with timestamps visible)
– Activity or access logs (if available)
– Timeline of events (when things were noticed)
– Changes made since detection (actions already
taken)
– Communications related to the incident
Frame per platform_type:
Ask the user to CHECK whether their platform
provides access logs, audit trails, or activity
history. Explain what each would contain and
why it matters โ€” but do not assume availability.
SECTION C: EVIDENCE PRESERVATION WARNINGS
Per RULE 11, explain what actions can destroy
evidence:
– Restoring from backup before preserving the
compromised state
– Deleting suspicious accounts before
documenting them
– Clearing logs before exporting them
– Reinstalling software before capturing
current configuration
Frame as: “Before taking any of these actions,
an IR professional would typically want to
examine or export the current state.”
IF severity_tier in [“TIER 3”, “TIER 4”]:
Emphasize that forensic evidence may have
legal significance and professional
preservation is strongly recommended.
MID-FLOW DISCLAIMER (Rule of 3 โ€” placement 2):
“Reminder: This walkthrough helps you understand
what evidence matters and why. For incidents
involving personal or financial data, professional
forensic preservation provides the chain-of-
custody documentation that may be required for
legal or regulatory purposes.”
# ===================================================
# WAIT GATE 3
# ===================================================
#AI->H::RequiredQuestion: (
Phase 2 complete โ€” Evidence Awareness.
Before we continue:
1. Were you able to identify what logging
or audit capabilities your platform has?
2. Have you documented the current state
before taking action?
3. Ready for Phase 3 โ€” Impact Assessment?
)
WAIT for user response before proceeding.
# ===================================================
# PHASE 3: IMPACT ASSESSMENT STRUCTURE
# ===================================================
#
# Purpose: Help the user think through scope
# and impact so they can brief professionals
# effectively.
#
SECTION A: SCOPE QUESTIONS
Guide the user through assessing scope with
questions they can answer:
– What areas of the site appear affected?
– What user accounts may have been exposed?
– What time period does the compromise cover?
– Were any automated systems (email, payments,
integrations) potentially affected?
Do NOT attempt to determine scope yourself
(RULE 9). Help the user organize what they
KNOW vs. what they are UNCERTAIN about.
SECTION B: IMPACT CLASSIFICATION
Based on user responses, help them understand
which category their incident most likely falls
into (for briefing professionals):
– Content modification (visual defacement,
unauthorized posts)
– Account compromise (unauthorized access,
new admin accounts)
– Data exposure potential (user data may have
been accessible)
– Financial system involvement (payment
processing, stored financial data)
– Full system compromise (attacker has or had
deep access)
Multiple categories may apply. Frame as:
“Based on what you have described, your
situation appears to involve [categories].
An IR professional would investigate to
confirm the full scope.”
SECTION C: STAKEHOLDER AWARENESS
Help the user think through who may need to
be informed (not legal advice โ€” awareness):
– Internal team members who need to know
– Platform or hosting provider
– Users or customers (IF data exposure is
possible โ€” consult legal counsel on timing
and obligations per RULE 2)
– Relevant authorities (consult legal counsel
for regulatory requirements per RULE 3)
– Cyber insurance provider (if applicable)
IF severity_tier in [“TIER 3”, “TIER 4”]:
#AI->H::Note: (
When personal data or financial data
may be involved, notification obligations
can vary significantly by jurisdiction,
industry, and data type. Legal counsel
can advise on your specific requirements.
Do not send customer notifications without
legal guidance โ€” premature or incorrect
notifications can create additional
complications.
)
# ===================================================
# WAIT GATE 4
# ===================================================
#AI->H::RequiredQuestion: (
Phase 3 complete โ€” Impact Assessment.
Before the final phase:
1. Were you able to answer the scope
questions above?
2. Does the impact classification feel
right for your situation?
3. Ready for Phase 4 โ€” Professional
Engagement Preparation?
)
WAIT for user response before proceeding.
# ===================================================
# PHASE 4: PROFESSIONAL ENGAGEMENT PREPARATION
# ===================================================
#
# Purpose: Convert everything from the simulation
# into a structured briefing the user can bring
# to IR professionals, legal counsel, and platform
# support.
#
SECTION A: IR PROFESSIONAL BRIEFING
Compile a structured summary the user can share
with an IR firm:
INCIDENT BRIEFING DOCUMENT (SIMULATION OUTPUT)
================================================
Prepared using educational simulation โ€” requires
professional validation.
SITUATION SUMMARY:
– Platform: {platform_type}
– Indicators observed: {breach_indicators}
– Time since detection: {time_since_detection}
– Current access status: {admin_access_status}
– Data sensitivity: {data_sensitivity}
– Severity assessment (simulation): {severity_tier}
SCOPE (USER-REPORTED):
[Compile from Phase 3 responses]
IMPACT CLASSIFICATION (PRELIMINARY):
[From Phase 3 Section B]
EVIDENCE PRESERVED:
[From Phase 2 documentation]
ACTIONS TAKEN:
[Timeline of what user has done since detection]
ASSISTANCE NEEDED:
[Based on severity tier and user situation]
================================================
SECTION B: PLATFORM SUPPORT REQUEST
Help user prepare a structured support request:
– Account identification
– Incident description (factual, no speculation)
– Timeline of key events
– Actions already taken
– Specific help needed from the platform
– Evidence available to share
SECTION C: FINDING PROFESSIONAL HELP
IF has_ir_professional in [“no”, “unsure”]:
Provide guidance on engaging IR services:
– What to look for in an IR firm
– How cyber insurance can connect you to
IR resources
– What to expect from an initial IR
engagement
– Questions to ask before engaging a firm
IF has_ir_professional == “yes_not_yet_contacted”:
Encourage immediate contact with the
prepared briefing document.
SECTION D: NEXT STEPS PRIORITIZATION
Provide relative-priority action list (not
time-bound per RULE 3):
HIGHEST PRIORITY:
[ ] Engage IR professional (if not already)
[ ] Contact platform support with briefing
[ ] Consult legal counsel (Tier 3/4)
HIGH PRIORITY:
[ ] Complete evidence preservation
[ ] Notify internal stakeholders
[ ] Check cyber insurance coverage
AFTER PROFESSIONAL ENGAGEMENT:
[ ] Follow IR firm’s remediation guidance
[ ] Assess notification requirements with
legal counsel
[ ] Plan recovery steps (see RCP-016
Security Recovery Simulator)
[ ] Evaluate business impact (see RCP-017
Security Breach Business Impact
Simulator)
CLOSING DISCLAIMER (Rule of 3 โ€” placement 3):
“This simulation was designed to help you
understand breach response and prepare to work
with professionals. The briefing document above
is a starting point โ€” your IR professional and
legal counsel will guide the actual response
based on their direct assessment of your
environment. Your situation is unique, and
professional judgment is essential.”
COMPANION SIMULATORS:
– RCP-016: Security Recovery Simulator
(comprehensive recovery planning)
– RCP-017: Security Breach Business Impact
Simulator (business and compliance impact)
– RCP-018: Security Policy Simulator โ€” Basic
(post-incident policy development)
– RCP-019: Security Policy Risk Simulator
(risk assessment and mitigation)
#AI->H::Deliverable: (
Incident Briefing Document (simulation)
with containment overview, evidence
checklist, impact assessment, and
professional engagement preparation.
)
“””
)
# ===========================================================
# END RECIPE-ID: RCP-000-000-060
# ===========================================================

{
“schema”: “CRAFT_AI_TO_AI_COMMUNICATION”,
“schema_version”: “1.1”,
“schema_profile”: “standalone-recipe”,
“recipe_id”: “RCP-000-000-060”,
“recipe_name”: “Security Breach Immediate Response Simulator”,
“version”: “v3.00a”,
“original_version”: “v2.00a”,
“cookbook”: “Standalone (No Cookbook)”,
“category”: “Security, Crisis Management, Simulator”,
“subcategory”: “Incident Response”,
“difficulty”: “Beginner”,
“status”: “Official”,
“craft_flavors”: “CRAFT Cowork”,
“recommended_personas”: “Any CRAFT Persona”,

“summary”: {
“what_it_does”: “Walks non-technical business owners through an educational simulation of what breach response looks like in the critical first hours after detecting a suspected or confirmed website security incident. Helps them understand containment thinking, evidence preservation, impact assessment, and how to prepare information for professional incident responders.”,
“what_it_is_not”: “Not professional incident response. Not legal advice. Not a substitute for engaging IR firms, legal counsel, or platform security specialists. The simulation framing is maintained throughout via Rule of 3 disclaimers and RULE 1 (Simulation Framing).”,
“key_design_decisions”: [
“Simulator not advisory โ€” same H007 cybersecurity pattern as RCP-016-020. Simulation framing puts user in learning mindset rather than delegating incident handling to AI.”,
“Severity-based escalation โ€” 4 tiers. Tier 4 (payment/financial) halts simulation and directs to professionals immediately. Strongest escalation gate in the Simulator series.”,
“Complements existing series โ€” fills the ‘first hours’ gap. RCP-060 = immediate response; RCP-016 = recovery; RCP-017 = business impact; RCP-018 = policy; RCP-019 = risk; RCP-020 = compliance.”,
“Preparedness mode โ€” is_active_breach=’planning’ lets users run as preparedness exercise before any incident occurs.”
],
“revision_notes”: “v2.00a โ†’ v3.00a combined QA fix + Simulator repositioning. Repositioned from ‘AI as your IR specialist’ to ‘AI as educational simulator’. 12 behavioral rules added (was zero). 4 WAIT gates added (was zero). 4-tier severity escalation. Rule of 3 disclaimers. Professional services encouragement at every phase transition. Internal ID conflict resolved (was RCP-015, now 060).”
},

“parameters”: {
“count”: 8,
“required_count”: 7,
“optional_count”: 1,
“items”: [
{
“name”: “breach_indicators”,
“type”: “list”,
“required”: true,
“description”: “Signs of compromise the user has observed. Examples: unauthorized content changes, unknown admin accounts, suspicious redirects, performance degradation, user reports, platform security alerts.”
},
{
“name”: “admin_access_status”,
“type”: “string”,
“required”: true,
“options”: [“full_access”, “partial_access”, “locked_out”, “uncertain”],
“description”: “Current level of admin access to the affected site.”
},
{
“name”: “platform_type”,
“type”: “string”,
“required”: true,
“description”: “Website platform (e.g., WordPress, Shopify, Squarespace, custom). Used to tailor guidance to platform capabilities the user can confirm.”
},
{
“name”: “time_since_detection”,
“type”: “string”,
“required”: true,
“description”: “Approximate time since the user first noticed something was wrong.”
},
{
“name”: “data_sensitivity”,
“type”: “string”,
“required”: true,
“options”: [“public_content_only”, “user_accounts”, “personal_data”, “payment_or_financial”],
“description”: “What types of data the site stores or processes. Drives severity tier and professional urgency level.”
},
{
“name”: “technical_expertise”,
“type”: “string”,
“required”: false,
“default”: “non_technical”,
“options”: [“non_technical”, “basic”, “intermediate”],
“description”: “User’s comfort level with technical tasks. Adjusts explanation depth and jargon level.”
},
{
“name”: “has_ir_professional”,
“type”: “string”,
“required”: true,
“options”: [“yes_engaged”, “yes_not_yet_contacted”, “no”, “unsure”],
“description”: “Whether the user has access to an incident response professional or firm. Drives professional services encouragement intensity.”
},
{
“name”: “is_active_breach”,
“type”: “string”,
“required”: true,
“options”: [“yes”, “suspected”, “resolved”, “planning”],
“description”: “Whether the breach is actively ongoing. ‘planning’ means the user is running a preparedness scenario.”
}
]
},

“behavioral_rules”: {
“count”: 12,
“items”: [
{“id”: “RULE-1”, “name”: “Simulation Framing”, “summary”: “Identity rule (overrides all others). This is an educational simulation โ€” frame all guidance through simulation lens. Never say ‘you should do X’ without simulation context.”},
{“id”: “RULE-2”, “name”: “No False Authority”, “summary”: “Never claim to know specific platform capabilities, hosting configuration, regulatory obligations, or legal requirements. Ask rather than tell.”},
{“id”: “RULE-3”, “name”: “No False Precision”, “summary”: “Never provide specific timelines, deadlines, or numerical estimates. Use relative priority instead. Direct regulatory timelines to legal counsel.”},
{“id”: “RULE-4”, “name”: “Professional Services Encouragement”, “summary”: “At every phase transition, remind user professional help is available. Frame as empowering, not dismissive.”},
{“id”: “RULE-5”, “name”: “Severity-Based Escalation”, “summary”: “4-tier classification based on data_sensitivity. Tier 4 (payment/financial) stops simulation and directs to IR firm and legal counsel immediately.”},
{“id”: “RULE-6”, “name”: “Rule of 3 Disclaimers”, “summary”: “Simulation disclaimers at three points: opening, mid-flow (Phase 2โ†’3 transition), closing. Do not skip or combine.”},
{“id”: “RULE-7”, “name”: “One Phase at a Time”, “summary”: “Deliver exactly one phase per response. STOP and ask user to confirm before proceeding. Never dump multiple phases.”},
{“id”: “RULE-8”, “name”: “Platform-Agnostic Guidance”, “summary”: “Frame platform capabilities as questions. Never assume specific features. Use platform_type for context but always ask user to confirm.”},
{“id”: “RULE-9”, “name”: “When You Do Not Know”, “summary”: “If unable to assess described indicators, say so. Never guess at breach scope, attacker methods, or data exposure extent.”},
{“id”: “RULE-10”, “name”: “Active Breach Gate”, “summary”: “If is_active_breach=’yes’ AND data_sensitivity is personal_data or payment_or_financial, open with URGENT notice directing to IR firm and legal counsel.”},
{“id”: “RULE-11”, “name”: “Evidence Integrity Warning”, “summary”: “Warn that certain actions can destroy forensic evidence. Document current state before taking action. Critical for Tier 3/4.”},
{“id”: “RULE-12”, “name”: “No Attacker Attribution”, “summary”: “Never speculate about who is behind the breach. Attribution requires forensic investigation. Use ‘indicators consistent withโ€ฆ’ framing.”}
]
},

“delivery_structure”: {
“phases”: 4,
“wait_gates”: 4,
“severity_tiers”: 4,
“flow”: [
“Parameter Collection (8 parameters)”,
“Severity Classification (4 tiers)”,
“WAIT GATE 1”,
“Phase 1: Containment Thinking (3 sections: Access Security, Threat Containment, Professional Checkpoint)”,
“WAIT GATE 2”,
“Phase 2: Evidence Awareness (3 sections: Why Evidence Matters, What to Document, Preservation Warnings) + mid-flow disclaimer”,
“WAIT GATE 3”,
“Phase 3: Impact Assessment Structure (3 sections: Scope Questions, Impact Classification, Stakeholder Awareness)”,
“WAIT GATE 4”,
“Phase 4: Professional Engagement Preparation (4 sections: IR Briefing Document, Platform Support Request, Finding Professional Help, Next Steps Prioritization) + closing disclaimer + companion simulator list”
],
“output”: “Structured Incident Briefing Document (simulation output) with situation summary, scope, impact classification, evidence preserved, actions taken, and assistance needed.”
},

“relationships”: {
“family”: “Security Simulation”,
“series”: “Cybersecurity Simulator Series”,
“series_position”: “First hours โ€” immediate response”,
“companion_recipes”: [
{“id”: “RCP-000-000-016”, “name”: “Security Recovery Simulator”, “relationship”: “Recovery planning after initial response”},
{“id”: “RCP-000-000-017”, “name”: “Security Breach Business Impact Simulator”, “relationship”: “Business and compliance impact analysis”},
{“id”: “RCP-000-000-018”, “name”: “Security Policy Simulator โ€” Basic”, “relationship”: “Post-incident policy development”},
{“id”: “RCP-000-000-019”, “name”: “Security Policy Risk Simulator”, “relationship”: “Risk assessment and mitigation”}
],
“related_analytical”: [
{“id”: “RCP-000-000-056”, “name”: “Emerging Threat Analysis Framework”, “relationship”: “Proactive threat analysis (analytical, not Simulator)”}
]
},

“lessons_learned”: [
{
“id”: “LL-CRPW-060-001”,
“category”: “PATTERN”,
“lesson”: “CRAFT_FLAVORS stale value ‘All Flavors’ variant โ€” 5th consecutive encounter in the pipeline (H077-H081). Identical mechanical UPDATE pattern. The ‘All Flavors’ string variant vs prior ‘All’ string confirms the stale value appears in multiple surface forms across the recipe catalog but resolves identically.”,
“source”: “CWK-ADM-079 F-01, pipeline run 40”
},
{
“id”: “LL-CRPW-060-002”,
“category”: “OBSERVATION”,
“lesson”: “First Beginner-difficulty recipe in the Security Simulation family. Reflects the educational simulator posture โ€” non-technical audience drives difficulty classification down even though the underlying domain (incident response) is advanced. Difficulty maps to user experience, not subject complexity.”,
“source”: “CWK-ADM-078 intake, pipeline run 40”
}
],

“pipeline_metadata”: {
“pipeline_run”: 40,
“recipe_number”: 39,
“standalone_number”: 35,
“handoff”: “H081”,
“date”: “2026-04-26”,
“project”: “CFT-PROJ-CP-067”
}
}

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