Introduction
Cyber incident management is an essential and complex process that requires an in-depth understanding of networks, security measures, and procedures. It involves detecting, preventing, and resolving cyber incidents and developing strategies to protect an organization’s data and systems. By proactively managing the risks associated with cyber threats, organizations can reduce the likelihood of a successful attack.
An effective and efficient response is essential for organizations to identify, mitigate, and recover from such incidents as quickly as possible. The collection of digital evidence is critical in the incident response process. A standard operating procedure (SOP) is essential for an effective incident response team from a managerial perspective.
Incident Response
Intrusion
In an intrusion cybersecurity incident, one can do a few things. The first is to assess the situation and gather as much information as possible. This includes understanding the nature of the attack and any malware or viruses involved.
Next, isolate the affected systems and remove any malware or viruses. One can also try to restore affected systems to their previous state (Thompson, 2018). Finally, one should notify their IT department and security experts about the attack.
Phishing
Another type of cybersecurity incident is phishing, a cybercrime commonly used to steal personal information, such as passwords and account numbers. It usually occurs through people claiming to be from banking organizations or other institutions. They inquire about one’s personal information, which they use to access the victims’ details and other property.
In the case of such an incident, it is essential to be skeptical and to ask for proof that the person is from your organization. If one is unsure whether or not the person is legitimate, it is best to contact one’s bank or organization directly to verify the request. Additionally, it is essential to be aware of the signs of a phishing attack, including an email that looks legitimate, a request for irrelevant personal information, and a link that takes you to a fake website (Clark, 2020). If one is suspicious of an email or web request, contacting the internet service provider (ISP) or a cybersecurity company is essential to investigate the request.
Ransomware
A few things need to happen for a ransomware cybersecurity incident to be responded to. First, the victim must be infected with ransomware (Barker et al., 2021). Once infected, the ransomware will start encrypting all of the computer files. It is important to note that this does not mean all computer files are encrypted. Only the files designated as part of the ransom payment are encrypted.
Once the ransomware has encrypted the files, the victim must contact the cybersecurity team for assistance. Once the cybersecurity team has been notified, they must decrypt the files (Barker et al., 2021). This can be done using a decryption key provided to the victim or a tool specifically designed to decrypt files encrypted with ransomware (Ellis, 2023). Once the files have been decrypted, the victim would need to restore them to their original state. This can be done by using the original files or a copy of the files created before the files were encrypted.
The Importance of Standard Operating Procedures
Standard operating procedures are critical to adequate cybersecurity. They provide a clear and consistent set of guidelines for organizations to follow to ensure the safety and security of their systems, networks, and data (Clark, 2020). With SOPs, organizations can quickly identify and address potential cybersecurity threats and detect and respond to security breaches. When it comes to cybersecurity, having an effective SOP allows organizations to prevent, detect, and respond to cyberattacks quickly and efficiently.
It helps them identify and address security control weaknesses that could leave systems vulnerable to malicious actors. This helps ensure that systems are protected from the latest threats and that potential security breaches are quickly identified and addressed. The study also found that organizations with SOPs in place experienced lower financial losses due to cyber-attacks (Clark, 2020). This indicates that an effective SOP can help organizations reduce the impact of cyberattacks and protect their systems, networks, and data.
The Role of a Prepared Incident Response Team
An incident response team with a baseline operations order is vital for effective incident response management. The operations order will establish the roles and responsibilities of the incident response team members, providing them with a framework of expectations to meet during a response (Baig, 2021). It will also streamline response activities, reducing confusion and ensuring the team works together as efficiently as possible.
The baseline operations order is a document that tells the response team what to do in different circumstances (Barker et al., 2021). It covers each team member’s roles and responsibilities, the steps to respond to different types of incidents, and the protocols for reporting and documenting incidents (Baig, 2021). This document helps ensure the team is prepared and informed before an incident occurs.
The information should be communicated to all team members so everyone is on the same page regarding an incident response. From an executive’s perspective, having a baseline operations order provides a basic oversight level. The manager can review and monitor the actions of the incident response team, ensuring that they are following the correct procedures and taking all necessary steps to address an incident on time (Lee, 2021). With this level of oversight, it is easier for a manager to ensure that the response team is performing effectively and taking the necessary steps to mitigate the risks posed by an incident.
Additionally, it allows the manager to identify any shortcomings in the team’s response plan more efficiently. It can help the manager identify areas that need improvement, such as processes that need to be revised or additional training that needs to be provided. This allows the manager to take proactive steps to ensure that the incident response team is prepared and ready to respond to any incident that may arise (Tvaronavičienė et al., 2020).
In summary, having a baseline operations order is essential to effective incident response management. According to Baig (2021), it provides a framework that allows for the prioritization of incidents, thus ensuring they are dealt with the necessary attention and expertise. Additionally, it allows the executive to oversee and identify any flaws in the early stages. By establishing and following a baseline operations order, incident response teams can be better trained to address any possible incident.
Conclusion
In conclusion, cybersecurity management is critical to any organization’s defense. It is crucial to have an effective incident response plan to prevent and mitigate digital threats and ensure that digital evidence is collected and preserved promptly and effectively. Having an SOP to guide the collection and preservation of digital evidence will help ensure the organization is well-prepared to handle any cyber incident. With cyber threats becoming increasingly complex and frequent, organizations must take the necessary steps to ensure that their cybersecurity measures are up to date and in line with industry best practices.
References
Baig, A. (2021). Incident Response Process & Procedures. AT&T Cybersecurity. Web.
Barker, W. C., Scarfone, K., Fisher, W., & Souppaya, M. (2021). Cyber security framework profile for ransomware risk management. National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Clark, C. (2020). Cyber Security Incident Management Master’s Guide (Vol. 2). Independently Published.
Ellis, D. (2023). 6 phases in the incident response plan. Security Metrics. Web.
Lee, I. (2021). Cybersecurity: Risk management framework and investment cost analysis. Business Horizons, 64(5), 659–671. Web.
Thompson, E. C. (2018). Cyber security incident response: How to contain, eradicate, and recover from incidents. Apress.
Tvaronavičienė, M., Plėta, T., Della Casa, S., & Latvys, J. (2020). Cybersecurity management of critical energy infrastructure in national cybersecurity strategies: Cases of the USA, UK, France, Estonia, and Lithuania. Insights into Regional Development, 2(4), 802-813. Web.