Cyber incidents will happen, even in highly secure organizations. Just ask the Department of Homeland Security and the Pentagon, which were both compromised in the SolarWinds attack in 2020. And in an increasingly regulated digital environment, the stakes keep getting higher. Plan for data incident management now and save headaches later. These steps will help.
But first, know the signs that indicate a potential data incident, as early detection is key. These signs can include:
- Anomalies – Check out any unusual system activity, such as a surge in login attempts, system access from an unrecognized location, accounts locked or passwords changed without your knowledge.
- Employee reports – Train employees to report missing data, suspicious emails, unusual changes to files or databases, or the appearance of unrecognized files.
- Alerts – Firewalls and other security tools can flag suspicious activity.
Before an Incident: Incident Recovery Plan
Most regulations and standards require organizations to document their cyber incident response plan as a first line of defense. This plan identifies the roles and responsibilities of those on the incident response team. It also maps out the company’s IT assets and outlines communication protocols. And it defines the steps to contain, eradicate, and recover from threats.
Step 1: Containment
Upon detecting a data incident, the immediate priority involves containing the breach. This may include disconnecting infected systems or restricting access to compromised data. It also includes cutting off the attackers’ access by changing passwords, revoking access privileges, and patching any exposed vulnerabilities.
With systems isolated and access restricted, take time to preserve evidence (the digital equivalent of putting up police tape and documenting the crime scene). Secure logs and any related data that might help determine the cause and scope of the incident. And implement security measures such as MFA or a mandatory password change to strengthen security.
Quick action will help to limit the damage caused and reduce the risk of non-compliance with privacy and security laws or industry regulations.
Step 2: Initial Assessment
With the outbreak contained, continue assembling the incident response team. This team will make critical determinations about the severity of the incident and whether IT systems and operations need to be contained or shut down. These crucial decisions can affect the organization’s ability to function and thus need to be made through proper escalation.
Consequently, be sure to involve the proper individuals. This will include IT staff and security personnel, of course. But it should also include legal and compliance specialists, executive representation, communication experts, and perhaps an external security team.
The team conducts an initial assessment to determine the scope and impact of the data incident. This includes identifying what data has been affected, as well as how and where the breach occurred. For instance, find out what vulnerabilities were exploited. Also identify the potential consequences for individual users and for regulatory compliance.
Step 3: Eradication
Once you have contained the infection, begin the process of eliminating it. Start with a root cause analysis to identify and remove the root cause of the incident. Then erase all malicious code, backdoors, or other artifacts left by the attackers. This may involve scanning your network and endpoints with advanced security tools to detect and eliminate any hidden threats.
Step 4: Recovery
Once you have eradicated the threat, begin the recovery process. Apply applicable security patches and security updates to prevent similar incidents. Recover data from backups, verifying the integrity of the data, and repair or replace any damaged systems or software. Then confirm that all systems are functioning normally before bringing them back online.
Step 5: Notification
Transparency and communication will prove critical to maintaining trust with employees, vendors, customers, and the public. Additionally, regulations often include requirements around notifying regulatory bodies and affected individuals within a specific timeframe. Failure to comply with those regulations can result in both reputational damage and hefty fines.
Have a mitigation plan in place. Then ensure clear, concise communication and provide guidance on protective measures that individuals can take. Your incident response plan should include details about who takes responsibility for external reputation cleanup.
Consider also notifying law enforcement. While some organizations hesitate to do this, involving law enforcement brings several benefits. Remember that agencies like the FBI have sophisticated cyber investigation tools and dedicated crime teams. They also have a wealth of information about bad actors and current threats.
Step 6: Post-Incident Analysis
Before too much time elapses, gather the team to conduct and document a post-incident review. Discuss what went well and identify areas for improvement. Refine your incident response plan and security procedures as applicable based on the review.
Plan for Data Incident Management Long Before an Incident Occurs
Unfortunately, statistics from the IBM Data Breach Report and other sources suggest that an organization that has suffered one breach is more likely to experience another attack. Consequently, data incident management becomes an ongoing process.
Conduct regular security and compliance audits, implement continuous monitoring, and train employees on security best practices. Additionally, work with the compliance and data management experts at Messaging Architects to effectively govern and protect essential information assets.
