Though they are closely related aspects of cybersecurity, incident management and incident response are not one and the same, and those who are well-versed in issues of cybersecurity know that they cannot be used interchangeably. Incident management, for one, is an encompassing process that is concerned with the entire lifecycle of a cybersecurity incident, and it includes preparing for cybersecurity threats, identifying and resolving incidents, conducting post-incident analysis, and implementing long-term improvements in the organisation’s cybersecurity measures.
The goal of incident management is to see to it that the business has a structured approach—often taking on the form of policies and processes—to prevent incidents from occurring. In case an incident takes place, proper incident management ensures that it can be handled effectively, the disruptions it can cause are minimised, and that the business is able to restore normal operations as soon as possible.
A subset of incident management, incident response, on the other hand, refers specifically to the tactical actions that need to be taken to detect and analyse an incident and make sure that it is contained and eradicated. While incident management focuses on the long term, incident response zeroes in on addressing the immediate threat and is often carried out under immense time pressure. Its objective is to eliminate the immediate threat posed by a specific incident and to minimise the damage that it can cause.
To gain a better understanding of these processes and the role they both play in strengthening your enterprise’s cybersecurity posture, let’s take a closer look at their differences, similarities, and how they’re carried out.
Here’s an overview of the steps that a business needs to take to establish and maintain their whole-of-organisation incident management process:
Aside from training the staff to recognise and report cybersecurity threats, preparing for events involves creating a policy that describes the roles and responsibilities that concerned individuals or departments should assume during an incident. It also entails coming up with escalation procedures and a communication plan that outlines how to keep stakeholders informed during an event.
It’s imperative for an organisation to be able to differentiate an incident and a routine issue. Monitoring tools and processes are key to immediately detecting and identifying security events that can disrupt operations. In case of multiple incidents, the ability to prioritise incidents based on their severity, potential impact, and urgency can help the business address the most critical issues in the timeliest manner, with the lowest possible risk of long-term damage.
The next step is to contain the security event and ensure the swift recovery of the organisation. This requires seamless coordination between the incident response teams and the affected departments. The containment and recovery stage is also a good time to let the affected stakeholders, such as the enterprise’s customers and partners, know about the incident and what is being done to address it.
Post-incident analysis involves conducting a structured post-mortem review of the event. Its goal is to analyse the root cause of the issue and the effectiveness of the response as well as identify gaps in policies, training, or technology that may have contributed to the incident. Documentation is a key part of this part of the process.
To strengthen its cybersecurity posture and improve responses to future events, a business needs to use the insights gained from previous incidents as the basis for updating its tools, processes, and policies. Better technology and training can improve the organisation’s incident handling capabilities, while regular testing can refine the way that it manages threats.
Meanwhile, the following steps are involved when a business responds to specific security events in a timely and effective manner:
This step entails assembling a dedicated incident response team (IRT) and ensuring that each member is aware of their roles and responsibilities. The company’s investment in proper tools and conduction of regular drills can help IRT members refine their response strategies and make sure they’re ready to hit the ground running at any time.
The use of monitoring systems allows an organisation to investigate suspicious activities and confirm as soon as possible whether an incident has actually occurred. Upon detecting an event, the IRT can assess the scope, impact, and potential root cause of the specific incident—details that can assist the team in coming up with the best possible response.
Prompt action is key to keeping an event contained and minimising the damage and disruption it can cause. The response team can isolate compromised systems, revoke credentials, or block malicious traffic to ensure that the threat does not spread. Preserving the affected systems allows the team to use it for forensic analysis later on.
This step involves the removal of malicious elements such as malware, unauthorised access points, or compromised accounts. A thorough analysis is what ensures that the system is completely free of the threat.
Once the threat has been eradicated, the IRT can start the recovery process. The team can now bring the systems back online. However, it’s important for IRT members to continue monitoring the affected systems to prevent re-infection or address any ongoing issues.
Every security incident is a learning process. During the post-incident review, the IRT can focus on the lessons learned from the event. The team can analyse what happened, how it was handled, and what about their particular approaches could be improved for future responses.
Despite their differences in scope, activities, and time frame, the incident management and incident response processes do share similarities. For instance, both aim to protect an enterprise’s assets and mitigate the impact of cybersecurity incidents. Designing and implementing both types of process also requires IT staff, security professionals, and decision makers in the organisation to work together. Teamwork plays a central role in ensuring that a business is adequately protected from and prepared for current and future cybersecurity threats, both in the short term and in the long term.
In addition, both processes require significant documentation. It’s important to have a thorough and accurate record of the cybersecurity threats that the business has faced and what was done to address them. This record serves as a valuable resource for achieving cybersecurity compliance and providing staff with proper training that can prevent or mitigate damage from future events.
Network Edge can help your New Zealand-based business implement long-term and immediate changes towards strengthening its cybersecurity stance. We offer cybersecurity solutions such as managed security services, managed detection and response, and incident response services. Get in touch with us today so that we can discuss options that match the exact needs of your enterprise.