cybersecurity
cybersecurity incident management
This article provides a comprehensive guide on how companies can structure an incident reporting process, implement strategies for timely decision-making, and prevent the spread of the incident. Additionally, it details how to handle post-incident activities and prepare a report that includes lessons learned. Finally, it identifies all the roles involved in incident management to ensure a coordinated and effective response.
This section presents a guide on how to establish an effective incident reporting process, including detection, notification initiation, and the appropriate communication channels to ensure incidents are managed efficiently and promptly.
All employees must be trained to recognize potential security incidents and immediately report any suspicion of an incident to the information security team.
Category | Indicator Name | Indicator Description |
---|---|---|
Technical | Unusual Network Activity | Unexpected increase in network traffic, connections to suspicious IPs, activity spikes during non-working hours. |
IDS Alerts | Notifications of unauthorized access attempts, port scans, detected malicious traffic patterns. | |
System Logs | Logs of multiple failed login attempts, accesses from unusual geographic locations, unauthorized configuration changes. | |
Anomalous User Behavior | Activities that do not match normal usage patterns, such as access to sensitive data by employees without privileges. | |
Suspicious Files and Applications | Presence of unrecognized files, unauthorized modifications to existing files, or installation of applications without approval. | |
Physical | Unauthorized Access | Attempts to physically access restricted areas, such as server rooms or sensitive equipment. |
Unknown Devices | Detection of unrecognized devices connected to the network, such as USB drives, laptops, or mobile devices. | |
Company | Employee Behavior | Reports from employees about suspicious behaviors or devices functioning unusually. |
Performance Issues | Unexplained slow system performance or unexpected crashes of critical services. | |
Data Disappearance | Loss or corruption of data without an apparent explanation. | |
External | Security Provider Alerts | Notifications from security service providers about emerging threats that could affect the organization. |
News and Reports | Media reports or public security alerts about new vulnerabilities or attacks that could be related to the company. |
Provide a standardized initial notification form that includes details such as:
There should be an Incident Response Team
(IRT) responsible for assessing the validity and severity of the reported incident. They must also ensure that all incident details are properly recorded.
The initial confirmation and evaluation of an incident are crucial steps to determine the truthfulness and severity of a potential threat. This process ensures that the organization's resources are used effectively and that appropriate measures are taken immediately.
Incident Response Team (IRT):
Incident Severity: Determine the threat level posed by the incident. This includes evaluating the potential impact on critical systems, the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data. Below is a list of possible severity levels:
Incident Scope: Identify which systems, networks, data, and users are affected. This may involve:
Prioritization: Based on the severity and scope of the incident, allocate the necessary resources to handle the situation effectively. Inform and coordinate with other relevant departments, such as IT, legal, and communications, to ensure a unified response.
An effective initial assessment allows the organization to make informed decisions quickly and minimize the incident's impact on operations.