The threat of cyberattacks poses a real danger to organizations of all sizes. A thoughtful and prepared response to a cyber crisis can make the difference between a quick recovery and prolonged damage. By taking prompt action with simple steps, the impact of a cyberattack can be significantly reduced. The ‘First Aid Crisis Card’ helps you with that.
Step 1: Assemble the Team
Assembling a crisis team is the first crucial step in managing a cyber crisis. This team must strike a balance between expertise and decisiveness, with essential roles such as chairperson, logger, security/privacy officer, and communication expert. Ensure that this team practices regularly and that all members are aware of their tasks and responsibilities.
Step 2: Secure the environment
During a cyber crisis, it is vital to act quickly and thoughtfully. Securing systems and data is paramount. This includes disconnecting network connections, securing backups, and collecting log files for forensic investigation. By following these steps, the further spread of the attack can be prevented, and crucial data can be preserved.
Step 3: Communication
Communication is a key factor in managing a cyber crisis. Ensure there is a designated communication expert within the crisis team and channel all communication through this team to maintain consistency and control. Internal staff should be informed in a timely and appropriate manner, while external communication should be clear and transparent to maintain the trust of customers and stakeholders.
Step 4: Extern help
Engaging specialized assistance can increase the effectiveness of the response to a cyber crisis. In preparation, note the contact details of your incident response company, which can also be your IT service provider. Such an external party has experience in handling a cyber crisis and can also negotiate with cybercriminals.
Step 5: Scenarios
Managing the crisis becomes much more efficient when done using scenarios. What could possibly happen and how are you going to prepare for it? By thinking about possible scenarios for the course of the crisis as one of the first steps, you can structure your thoughts and concrete action plan and thus focus on the important matters and minimize impact.
Step 6: Insurance
There are insurances that cover costs resulting from a cyber crisis, known as cyber insurances. Consider whether a cyber insurance is sensible for you. If so, note the details of the insurer and when you should engage them in a cyber crisis.
Step 7: Incident Reporting
Various laws require reporting a privacy or cyber incident; keep this in mind and prepare for it. Prevent fines for late reporting. For example, establish within how much time you must report and where to do so.
Step 8: Documentation
During a crisis, many events often occur in a short time. Recording decisions, actions, and other relevant matters is of great importance for efficient handling of the crisis.
Conclusion
With proper planning, preparation, and response strategies, organizations can show resilience and minimize the impact of cyber attacks. No panic, but action is the key to successfully overcoming a cyber crisis. Download the ‘First Aid Crisis Card’ and get started right away.