Many businesses have implemented strong cybersecurity measures to protect against the risks they face in today’s digital landscape. Still, even the most robust measures are not foolproof. There is no way to prevent every potential breach, so organizations need to learn about strategies that can help them respond to cybersecurity incidents effectively and recover quickly. Here’s what you need to know to keep your business safe.
What Is Incident Response & Recovery?
Incident response may sound straightforward, but it is a complex set of activities that organizations must carry out to identify, detect, and stop security incidents. It also encompasses recovering from incidents and preventing them in the future. The idea is to minimize the damage a particular incident causes.
Effective Incident Response & Recovery Strategies
Below are the most effective strategies for responding to and recovering from cyber incidents.
Set Up an Experienced Incident Response Team
Many organizations don’t reach out to cybersecurity experts until something disastrous happens. As a result, it is not unusual for them to experience significant downtime. In many cases, the incident can spread and cause more damage if it is not addressed swiftly. Therefore, it is imperative to have a capable incident response team in place made up of individuals with expertise in cybersecurity and related areas such as IT operations, communications, and legal regulations. Each member of the team should have a clearly defined role. Organizations that lack qualified personnel should consider outsourcing this function to cybersecurity professionals.
Develop a Thorough Incident Response Plan
Once a cybersecurity team is in place, organizations should task them with developing a thorough incident response plan and supporting documentation so that all members have a roadmap to consult outlining the planned responses to various types of incidents. This plan should detail the steps that will be taken and how the response will be coordinated.
Set Up Communication Channels
During cybersecurity breaches, communication can make or break an organization’s response. Therefore, it is helpful to establish clear channels for communication, both internally and externally, keeping in mind that in certain types of cyber breaches, some communication channels may not be available. Determine who must be informed of incidents, what information will be shared with them, and how updates will be communicated to regulators, clients, and other affected parties.
Choose an Incident Response Framework
Following an official incident response framework outlining how to structure the process can facilitate incident response. ISO, NIST, and other frameworks can all be used to guide responses; organizations should review the different frameworks available and determine which elements will best meet their needs.
Ensure Response Personnel Are Trained and Updated
Every organization’s incident response team member should be properly trained on the processes involved in effective incident response, along with the specific responsibilities that will fall under their purview. However, training is not a one-and-done prospect. As cybersecurity threats evolve and attackers become increasingly sophisticated, organizations should train occasionally to ensure team members know how to respond to the latest types of attacks your organization may face.
Test the Incident Response Plan Regularly
Incident simulations and tabletop exercises can help ensure everyone is prepared for real incidents when they occur. These tests should be conducted regularly, and the insights they provide should be used to refine and update the organization’s cyber security incident response plan as needed. Plans that are not kept up to date could prove unhelpful or even damaging in the event of a cyber security incident.
Establish a Plan for Preserving Evidence
Preserving evidence during a cyber breach is necessary for proper forensic analysis and may come into play if legal proceedings arise. Therefore, the cybersecurity response team should know how to make copies of files, logs, and other important data before they make any changes to systems affected by a breach.
Take a Recovery-Minded Approach
Although neutralizing cyber security threats as quickly as possible is often a priority, recovering the affected systems and services should be considered at every stage of the planning and response process. Organizations must ensure that they will have backups available that can be used for restoration to reduce downtime and keep the incident’s impact on the business’s operations and profits to a minimum.
Reach Out to the Incident Response Team at Advantage Technology
Is your organization prepared to respond to evolving threats? Reach out to the incident response team at Advantage Technology today to request a consultation and learn more about how our team of experienced professionals can provide you with effective protection and peace of mind.
