The importance of rapid response

Guy Golan at Performanta explores the critical nature of response time for cyber-attack containment 

 

With cyber-attacks on critical public infrastructures increasing throughout the western world, the fast response and effective communication of public and private companies – and their cyber-security resources – are being put to the test.

 

The most common forms of cyber-crime are now phishing attacks, malware, ransomware and denial of service (DoS), each capable of inflicting significant harm on individuals and organisations. At the same rate that these attacks are becoming more prolific, organisations are struggling to respond within the critical time period. 

 

Given that an organisation’s operations, data integrity, customer protection, and reputation are on the line, a swift response is crucial to prevent incidents from escalating. 

 

Time and again, we witness the repercussions of inadequate cyber-security measures. Over the last year, we’ve experienced confusion around miscommunicating cyber-attacks, with the UK Air Traffic Control’s debacle wrongly stating a cyber-attack last year, UnitedHealth’s slow response to a mass data leak in April this year, and attacks to British Ambulance Services and Nuclear plant Sellafield still gaining significant backlash.

 

In the event of a breach, response time is a critical factor in mitigating damage. Technological innovation in digital security enables companies to detect threats, contain them, and swiftly communicate the incident to stakeholders more effectively than ever before – so why isn’t this happening in reality?

 

A slow response is a poor defence

There are multiple stages to a good defence. First and foremost of course, the ability to respond within the critical window to prevent wide scale damage. Unfortunately, a common practice is to use industry regulation and compliance as a guide for the ‘perfect’ security strategy. In reality though, it’s a set of controls that conform to the ‘standard’ business, not to the nuances of each individual organisation. 

 

Advancing beyond mere compliance is therefore crucial. This is the first step toward achieving a cyber-safe mindset. Although cyber-threats are continually evolving and increasing in sophistication, so are the technologies and strategies available to combat them. There are numerous measures a company can take to ensure a fast and effective response time in the event of a cyber-security breach. 

 

We also need to embrace the platforms and tools necessary for real-time threat detection and response. Businesses need immediate, accurate data and a user-friendly presentation format to enable teams to respond promptly and effectively. One example of such a tool is extended detection and response (XDR), which provides businesses with a managed service that detects and responds to threats. 

 

By defending the whole of your attack surface, identifying sophisticated attacks at machine speed, and delivering rapid security outcomes, XDR sets the standard for facilitating rapid responses to cyber-threats. Offset against the potential costs of a successful cyber-security breach, investing in advanced detection and monitoring tools is a cost-effective strategy to mitigate financial losses and reputational damage.  

 

In cyber-security, standing still means falling behind. 

 

For incident responders, continuously striving for improvement is imperative. Regular training programmes and drills that simulate cyber-breach scenarios can prepare teams to handle critical cyber-incidents effectively. Frequently reviewing and assessing an organisation’s security posture can identify vulnerabilities and areas for improvement before attackers exploit them. Implementing automation and AI can assist this process by significantly speeding up the identification of anomalies and potential threats. 

 

A collaborative approach to cyber-security can significantly benefit all parties involved. For instance, sharing threat intelligence with industry peers and cyber-security organisations provides early warnings about emerging threats and attacker techniques. This collective effort enhances the overall security posture by fostering a proactive defence against potential cyber-security incidents. 

 

Respond faster, be safer

Complacency is a luxury organisations cannot afford. Cyber-threats are relentless, and the consequences of unpreparedness can be catastrophic. To survive and thrive, businesses must adopt a proactive approach to their defences – reducing the time to respond to breaches to stop attackers in their tracks. 

 

By doing so, organisations can not only mitigate risks but also seize the opportunity to outmanoeuvre adversaries and emerge stronger. 

 

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Guy Golan is Executive Chairman and CEO of Performanta

 

Main image courtesy of iStockPhoto.com amd nadla