Incident Response

What is an incident response?

Incident response refers to an organization's approach to addressing a data breach or cyberattack. Businesses create incident response plans to manage security incidents and minimize the overall impact. 

Organizations use malware analysis tools to get ahead of security attacks. They isolate malware and move the infected resources to a secure sandbox environment. IT and security professionals then examine and study the malware’s code to protect against future breaches. 

Types of security incidents

A security incident is any occurrence that threatens the integrity and confidentiality of an organization’s information systems or data. Organizations must be aware of different types of security incidents as they create their incident response plan. 

• Phishing attacks leverage digital or voice messages to manipulate recipients into downloading malicious software, sharing sensitive information, or transferring money. The attackers carefully craft messages to look or sound like they come from a credible individual, such as a Chief Executive Officer or other authority figure. 

• Ransomware, also known as malware, is a kind of malicious software designed to block a user’s access to their computer files. Cyber attackers typically encrypt the files and demand a ransom payment for the decryption key. 

• An insider threat originates with authorized users who compromise an organization’s information security. Malicious insiders intentionally misuse their access for financial gain, revenge, or a combination of reasons. In contrast, negligent insiders don’t have bad bad intent. However, they still create security issues due to their carelessness or ignorance, sometimes by failing to follow security best practices, like using a strong password.

• An unauthorized access attempt involves an individual or entity gaining access to systems or data without proper authorization. Trying unapproved logins, correctly guessing passwords and bypassing access controls are examples of unauthorized access. 

• A denial-of-service (DoS) attack temporarily prevents legitimate users from gaining entry to their information systems, devices, or networks due to cybercriminals. A distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) is a common strategy that sends several requests to the server and overwhelms it with traffic.

Benefits of an incident response

Incident response is a mission-critical aspect of cybersecurity strategy and protection. Defining and implementing an effective incident response plan offers several benefits.

• Detects attacks quickly: An effective incident response sniffs out security incidents and data breaches promptly, which can limit the scope and adverse effects. 

• Reduces the chances of financial loss: Detecting and containing security incidents early and preventing the theft of sensitive data can minimize the financial ramifications the business may experience. This includes avoiding legal fines, regulatory penalties, and hefty ransoms.

• Protects and preserves brand reputation: A business that does not have a well-executed incident response risks damaging or ruining its reputation. If sensitive data is leaked, promptly addressing the situation with transparency and taking accountability is a must to maintain trust and loyalty with customers, employees, and key stakeholders.

• Monitors legal and regulatory compliance: Incident response plans help organizations comply with legal and regulatory requirements related to data privacy and cybersecurity. Organizations should stay aware of industry-specific rules and regulations and build measures to abide by them. 

How to create an incident response plan

An incident response plan is a detailed strategy that IT professionals and other critical organizational stakeholders develop and implement in preparation for security problems. Generally, an organization creates a plan and documents it before an incident occurs so staff can follow the defined procedures to recover following the attack. 

• Establish a policy for addressing security incidents. Organizations should develop an evergreen, high-level response policy for handling security incidents. The policy should detail the members of the incident response team, the steps to take after an incident, the tools necessary to recover from a breach, and the level of authority stakeholders hold with regard to addressing the situation. 
• Develop step-by-step playbooks and procedures. To complement the high-level overview outlined in the policy, incident response teams should codify standardized, step-by-step actions and instructions for different scenarios. Playbooks should leave little room for interpretation so responders can quickly and correctly do their jobs to protect systems and data. 
• Create a communication plan. The incident response team should also dedicate time to developing a robust communication plan. Teams may need to consult with executives, legal teams, HR, customers, vendors, or compliance officers to create the communication plan. 
• Test and update the plan over time. An incident response plan won’t be perfect on the first try. Teams must test their strategy and procedures, identify areas of opportunity to improve and iterate for the best results. 

Incident response vs. disaster recovery

Incident response and disaster recovery are crucial components of overall business continuity and security strategy; however, they focus on different events.

Incident response primarily focuses on handling security incidents and data breaches. Disaster recovery encompasses a broader range of events that might impact normal business operations, including natural disasters and power outages.

Learn more about how incident response teams and law enforcement agencies use digital forensics to conduct security incident investigations.