In the previous steps of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework—identify, protect, and detect—we explained how to identify cybersecurity risks, map your environment, gain insight into vulnerabilities, implement protective measures, and identify incidents. But that is not the end of the story, as you eventually reach the point where you must take action. In the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, this is called 'respond'.
WHAT DOES RESPOND ENTAIL?
When an alarm goes off, it is vital to have processes and procedures in place to respond quickly. What does your incident management process look like? Is your support team prepared for the influx of calls and inquiries? Do you have the right people in the right roles to handle the situation? You need to have answers to all these questions. Furthermore, forensic investigation and gathering the right insights to resolve the incident are crucial.
In the 'respond' phase, you want to ensure you are well-equipped to react when an incident occurs. To achieve this, it is essential to take several key steps:
1. Scenarios: carefully consider the potential information security scenarios that could occur in your cloud environment, such as natural disasters, ransomware, active hackers, and so on. Mapping these out allows you to prepare for them.
2. Processes: it is also important to document how you will handle these various scenarios. This means defining who is ready to take action, when, what is required, and how alerts are managed.
3. Helpdesk/crisis management: during a security incident, you are often overwhelmed with questions, calls, and notifications. It is important to structure and coordinate this so your team can focus on resolving the incident.
4. Proper information provision: it is crucial to filter the right information from everything you receive. This enables you to act and respond appropriately to prevent damage from the security incident.
SECURITY SPECIALISTS
Fundaments works with experienced security specialists to take the burden off your shoulders during this phase of the framework. These specialists are 100% focused on their core service: security response. They can assist with all facets of security, such as SIEM/SOC solutions, forensic investigation, analytics, 24/7 incident response, and much more.
Would you like to know more? Please contact us by calling 088 4 227 227 or emailing info@fundaments.nl.
