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Detection Use Case — Template

Related capability: DE-2. One file per use case; keep under version control (detection-as-code).

Metadata

Field Value
ID UC-XXXX
Name e.g., "Suspicious addition to privileged group"
Status idea / development / testing / production / retired
Author / owner
Created / last reviewed
Severity (default) P1–P4

Threat context

  • Threat description: what adversary behaviour does this detect?
  • MITRE ATT&CK mapping: Tactic(s): … | Technique(s): T…
  • Threat profile link: which actor/scenario from the organisational threat profile (ID-5) motivates this?
  • CIA objective(s) defended: ☐ Confidentiality ☐ Integrity ☐ Availability
  • Priority assets in scope: (crown-jewel link, ID-3)

Technical definition

  • Required log sources: (and current onboarding status)
  • Detection logic: (query/rule in your platform's language — pseudocode acceptable at design stage)
  • Known blind spots / evasion:
  • Dependencies: enrichment sources, allowlists, asset tags

Operational handling

  • Triage steps: 1) … 2) … 3) …
  • Escalation criteria:
  • Containment options: (link to playbook)
  • False-positive scenarios & tuning notes:

Validation & metrics

  • Test method: unit test / attack simulation / purple team — evidence: [link]
  • Last validated (rule fired on test): date
  • Volume: alerts/week: … | True-positive rate: …
  • Review cadence: every [6] months or on relevant threat-intel change

Template from the Open CDC Framework (CC BY 4.0). ATT&CK® is a registered trademark of The MITRE Corporation.