Cybersecurity: the importance and implementation of an incident response plan

Cybersecurity incidents are the order of the day in today's digital world. Every day, organizations of all sizes are targeted by hackers and other cybercriminals. In 2022 alone, the number of cyberattacks globally exceeded 600 billion and this number is expected to continue to grow in the coming years. It is therefore essential for any organization to be prepared to deal with a security incident by having a Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan in place. Without such a plan, organizations may not be able to quickly detect and respond to an incident, which could lead to significant damage. They may also be unable to recover effectively from an incident, risking disruption to business operations and damage to the organization's reputation.

What is a cybersecurity incident response plan and why is it essential

An Incident Response Plan (IRP) is a documented set of instructions or procedures your organization must follow to detect, respond to, and recover from cybersecurity threats. The IRP helps the organization organize itself to respond effectively during a security incident. Without an IRP, security teams may not be able to mitigate threats. Furthermore, an IRP can have multiple variations depending on the type of cybersecurity incident you are dealing with. Specific threats require specific procedures to eliminate them and prevent further damage.

Implementation of an incident response plan

Below is a list of steps you can follow to implement an IRP:

Create a dedicated team to manage incident response plans. This team, known as the Incident Response Team (IRT), can consist of multiple roles and responsibilities: the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), incident response managers, security analysts, and threat researchers. It may also include your public relations and legal teams who will handle post-infringement damages.

Once the team is up and running, the second step is to identify critical business assets and possible threats. This will define the team's main priorities and plan focal points.

The third step is the drafting of the incident response plan which responds to the following phases: Identification of threats; Threat containment; Threat Eradication; Recovery; Post-accident activity.

The next steps include the development of a communication plan, which is essential to ensure efficient and effective management of information by the IRT towards all interested parties (for example, employees, customers, law enforcement, the press, etc. ). It should also include contact information for internal and external members of the IRT.

Finally, it is essential to constantly test and update the response plan. This should take place at least annually and should include cyberattack simulations or drills to ensure that each member of the response team understands their roles and responsibilities. During this phase, the IRT should note any problems and areas for improvement to optimize the IRP.