Acting quickly and containing the incident is critical when a data breach occurs. This includes identifying what information was leaked or stolen, which parties were affected, and implementing short-term and long-term security solutions. A quick response will minimize the damage from a cyberattack and save your company money and reputation.
Detection
Detection is a critical element of data breach response, as it allows for quick action to minimize damage. It includes deploying intrusion detection systems, monitoring networks, and checking for signs of malware. It also involves putting in place preventative measures such as encrypting sensitive information and restricting access to it. It requires regular backups of critical data and test restoration processes to ensure they work correctly. It means training employees in cybersecurity best practices and assessing the security of third-party providers. It also requires a clear incident response plan, which includes creating templates for statements to release to staff, customers, and media in case of a data breach. This must consist of requirements for contacting regulatory bodies and a list of stakeholders that need to be informed, including IT support teams, cybersecurity specialists, outsourced IT providers, and PR. It should also cover how these communications will be handled and when, as transparency is essential for maintaining trust in the aftermath of a breach. It also helps mitigate reputational damage, often the main consequence of a data breach.
Containment
As an MSP, you must safeguard your data as well as the data of your clients. With ransomware alive and thriving, third-party breaches continuing to rise, and cyberattacks increasing, it’s now a case of when or not your client will suffer a data breach. This is why a robust incident response plan is critical for MSPs. An incident response (IR) plan helps organizations regain control after a security incident, minimize the impact, and protect the organization. While a good IR plan includes a dedicated team responsible for executing the steps in the event of a breach (typically referred to as a CSIRT or CIRT), it should also involve people from multiple departments, such as public relations and human resources, to help communicate with employees, supervisors and the media. This is particularly important in a breach that results in the release of personal information, such as credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, healthcare records, and other sensitive information. Communicating how the company will contact consumers can limit phishing scams and other malicious activities and save time and money in the long run.
Notification
Notification is a critical step in managing a data breach. Legal requirements for notification vary by country, and non-compliance could result in punitive costs for your organization. Whether you follow your organization’s plan or act as it unfolds, the team responsible for responding to a data breach should be clear on what information they need to provide in the notification to affected individuals and other stakeholders. For example, if you’re notifying consumers who have had their Social Security numbers stolen, consider telling them how to place a free fraud alert or credit freeze on their accounts—that may hinder thieves from getting credit in the victims’ names.
It’s also essential to consult with law enforcement about timing so your notification doesn’t impede the investigation. Finally, consider the impact of your information on your business and reputation, and ensure you’re communicating straightforwardly and honestly. It’s also helpful to consult outside counsel to ensure your notification complies with all relevant laws and statutory requirements.
Remediation
As the adage goes, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” When a data breach hits a company, a lot can go wrong. Once a company has secured out-of-band communications and worked with forensics experts and law enforcement, it’s time to remediate the data. As part of this process, it is essential to work with forensics experts to determine if protections such as encryption were enabled during the breach, analyze backup or preserved data, verify access, and re-impose more strict access measures if necessary. Another driver for remediation is newly enacted laws and regulations. For example, a newly enacted state data privacy law could be an incentive to remove personal information from your organization’s database. Other drivers for remediation are instances of human error. For example, employees download sensitive information to their devices or accidentally open a malicious spam email. In those cases, remediation can be an effective way to limit the damage. Cleaning up data also reduces the organization’s sensitive data footprint and supports compliance initiatives.
Recovery
Recovery is all about fixing the damage caused by the breach and preparing for future incidents. It’s about offering support to affected parties, being transparent and honest in communication, conducting regular security audits, and enhancing employee training. The best way to ensure your organization can recover from a data breach is to ensure the response plan is tested regularly. Ensure that the team involved in incident response, including management and other departments, is familiar with the program to act quickly and effectively if needed. It’s also essential to test the effectiveness of your backup systems. If a system was compromised during a breach, you need good backups to avoid losing valuable information. Lastly, remove the vulnerabilities that led to the violation by monitoring all entry and exit points. This includes examining all service providers and analyzing what types of personal information they can access so you can change their privileges if necessary. Finally, be prepared to respond to consumer questions by publishing answers on your website.