In Part I of our blog ‘The Golden Hour’, we already mentioned the dynamic and often unpredictable domain of cybersecurity. The ability of organizations to respond quickly and effectively to incidents is crucial to limit the damage. This responsiveness is nowhere better illustrated than during ‘The Golden Hour’ – the first hour after discovering a cyber attack or security breach. This critical timeframe is often decisive for the course of the crisis. If the right decisions are not made during this period, the consequences can be far-reaching and costly.
Part I of the blog delves further into the essential steps that need to be taken in ‘The Golden Hour’, this second part describes the importance of having a well-prepared crisis team. Read part II below, written by one of our cyber crisis experts, Kelvin Rorive.
Quickly Assembling the Crisis Team
A rapid and coordinated response requires the immediate mobilization of a crisis team. This team should be broadly composed with members representing various disciplines. Important roles include:
- Chairperson: responsible for leading the crisis team, making decisions, and ensuring a structured approach.
- Logger: a crucial but often underestimated role. The logger documents all actions taken, decisions made, and communications. This not only ensures transparency and accountability during the crisis but also helps with post-crisis evaluation to improve processes.
- Communications Manager: essential for managing external and internal communication. Clear, accurate, and timely communication can limit reputational damage and ensure the maintenance of trust among customers, partners, and the public.
- Access Control: only authorized personnel should have access to the evidence, and every access must be recorded.
In the initial composition of the crisis team, the above basic roles are essential. However, depending on the nature and scale of the cyber crisis, additional disciplines should be added to ensure an effective response. This expansion ensures that the team has the necessary expertise to properly address all aspects of the crisis.
Additional Disciplines
Depending on the specific nature of the cyber crisis, the following disciplines may be essential for the crisis team:
- IT Security Specialists: experts in cybersecurity are crucial for analyzing the attack, identifying the vulnerabilities that have been exploited, and developing technical countermeasures.
- Legal Advisors: lawyers specializing in cyber law can advise on the legal implications of the attack and the response, including compliance with reporting obligations, handling data protection issues, and preparation for potential lawsuits.
- HR Managers: in attacks involving personnel, such as phishing or social engineering, HR can advise on communication with and support for employees, as well as help determine the impact on staff.
- Financial Advisors: financial experts can help assess the financial impact of the attack, including recovery costs, potential fines, and managing financial risks.
- Forensic Experts: depending on the complexity and severity of the attack, engaging external cybersecurity companies or forensic experts may be necessary to provide additional expertise and capacity. See also the next paragraph on the importance of forensic experts.
By bringing together experts from various fields, an organization can not only address the technical challenges of a cyber attack but also effectively manage the legal, financial, operational, and personnel consequences. The ability to dynamically adapt the team to the specific requirements of the situation is a key factor in successfully navigating through the complexity of cyber crises.
Forensic Experts Help Make the Right Decisions
Forensic experts are specialized in thoroughly investigating cyber incidents to determine how the attack was carried out, which systems were compromised, and what data may have been exposed or stolen. Their skills are essential for uncovering the attack vectors and methods used by the attackers.
In the context of a cyberattack, collecting and securing digital evidence is crucial, not only for internal analysis and recovery but also for potential legal action against the perpetrators. Forensic experts ensure proper handling and documentation of evidence, following chain of custody principles, to maintain its legal integrity.
After the analysis, forensic experts provide advice on restoring affected systems and improving security protocols and practices to prevent future attacks. Their insights are essential for strengthening the organization’s cybersecurity infrastructure.
The detailed technical insights provided by forensic experts are valuable for informing internal and external stakeholders about the nature of the attack and the measures taken. This can help restore confidence and meet expectations of transparency.
Arrange Appropriate Mandate and Tight Communication
In managing a cyber crisis, it is essential to quickly establish a crisis team that is not only formally positioned within the organization but also equipped with a significant mandate. This team becomes the central pivot, with explicit authority to make critical decisions and implement them throughout the entire organization. Crucial within this mandate is the centralization of all communication, ensuring it flows exclusively through the crisis team. This strategic move is important for effectively managing the information flow, preventing the spread of rumors and disinformation, and ensuring a clear and uniform perception of crisis developments.
In the chaos of a crisis, information flows are often fragmented and unmanageable, creating fertile ground for unfounded rumors and misinformation to spread unchecked. By centralizing all communication channels and directing them through the crisis team, a filter is created that ensures the accuracy and validation of all shared information. This is not only crucial for maintaining control over the situation but also for maintaining a clear and consistent narrative for all involved.
The power of centralized communication lies in the ability to paint a coherent and clear picture of the situation, both for internal employees and external stakeholders.
The crisis team, empowered by a robust mandate, is central to the response strategy and thus able to act quickly and decisively. This capacity for immediate action is indispensable in a crisis, where every second counts and the ability to respond quickly has a direct impact on the outcome… the golden hour!
Much to Do in the First Hour... and There's Already So Much Stress
The first hour after discovering a cyber crisis is undoubtedly the most critical moment when the foundations for success or failure are laid. With a myriad of tasks requiring immediate attention, from isolating systems to mobilizing a crisis team, it feels like navigating through a storm with high waves. This period, often referred to as ‘the golden hour’, is not only a race against the clock to limit damage but also a challenge to maintain calm and clarity amidst the chaos.
The stress inherent in such situations can be overwhelming. However, it is precisely under this pressure that the strength of preparation, training, and the ability to function as a unit are tested. An effective crisis team, equipped with clear procedures and a strong mandate, can be the key to maintaining oversight and making well-considered decisions.
The first hour is hectic, and stress levels are inevitably high, but with proper preparation, a clear action plan, and a dedicated crisis team, the organization can navigate this critical period with minimal damage and maximum efficiency. In the world of cybersecurity, where attacks are inevitable, an organization’s strength is measured not only by how it prevents attacks but also by how it responds when they occur.