‘Only after the calf has drowned, does one fill the well’. It’s an age-old proverb, but still applicable. Humans are naturally reactive. Additionally, we’re somewhat naive: ‘That won’t happen to us, we’re well-secured’ or ‘Bring it on, we’re well-prepared’ are statements we often hear.
But is that really the case? A cyber attack is almost inevitable. As many as 1 in 5 organizations are affected by a cyber attack. Many organizations do set up protocols once, but only take real action when it’s actually too late. How good is your organization’s cyber resilience really? And how can you further increase it?
A cyber resilience roadmap offers the solution to not only make your organization cyber resilient but also to keep it that way. In this article, we share the general steps for creating a cyber resilience roadmap.
Step 1: Map Out the Risks for Your Organization
Identify cyber threats: Analyze potential threats in the cyber landscape for your organization. Additionally, sit down with management to discuss the risks. Consider vulnerable business processes, potential dangers to data, and the impact on privacy and finances.
Step 2: Increase Awareness and Involvement
Make management aware of cyber threats. Discuss concrete scenarios and ask for their input. Also, have management think about concrete situations and their role in the resilience plan.
Step 3: Create a Robust Plan
Make an overview of identified risks and existing measures: document all identified risks and existing measures. This serves as a basis for further planning and implementation.
Determine what cyber resilience means for your organization. This includes the ability to prevent, detect, limit damage from, and facilitate recovery from cyber incidents. Use a model with Incident Response, Crisis Management, and Business Continuity Management as the three important components.
Step 4: Implement Concrete Measures
Work on organized structures: Set up steering committees, Crisis Management Teams, and communication platforms. Create a structured framework to respond quickly and effectively to potential cyber incidents.
Ensure monitoring, map dependencies, and establish detailed crisis plans. These measures ensure a proactive approach to cybersecurity.
Step 5: Ensure a Quality System and Continuous Improvement
Regularly assess and improve plans and protocols in the areas of Incident Response, Crisis Management, and Business Continuity Management. Additionally, test the organization’s readiness and optimize the whole based on lessons learned from exercises and incidents.
Do You Need Help Strengthening Your Organization's Cyber Resilience?
By following these steps, your organization builds a strong cyber resilience strategy. Do you want more information about our approach? Then download our guide ‘Cyber Attack, Don’t Panic.’