Incident Response Plan: Keys to success for companies with multiple teams involved

Now's the perfect moment to assert that having an effective incident response plan (IRP) isn't merely a choice—it's an absolute must for organizations of any size. 

The trends are ever-changing, and staying informed and adapting is crucial. This post explores the keys to an effective IRP, but specifically one of the most significant trends shaping them: the critical role of a leader designation. 

Our comprehensive exploration underscores that having a single accountable owner is the linchpin for guiding teams through crises and ensuring a swift resolution. Proactive accountability with incident response plans is essential for providing necessary resources and fostering a security-centric mindset. By doing so, this person will set the tone for their organization, inspiring action and readiness among teams. 

To gain a deeper understanding of the pivotal role that this plays in incident response plans, the key is to equip your organization with the knowledge and skills necessary to enhance incident response strategies.  

An IRP is a task that tends to be time-constraining as it demands organizing regular training sessions for the team, updating plans and procedures based on evolving threats and business needs, and finally, regular drills and simulations to test and refine the business capabilities. 

Businesses are concerned about cyber risk and how they can mitigate it most cost-effectively. To get guidance on how to approach this, we suggest a simple checklist that will ensure you are in a competitive posture with clear and specific goals.  

Design an Incident Response Leader

To make things happen, you need someone to watch over them. This is why it’s crucial to design a leader that owns your company’s IRP. This doesn’t mean it’s urgent to hire a cybersecurity specialist, but you do need a person that has this under his or her OKRs. Professionals ideally suited for this role may belong to one of the following teams: Information Technology, Information Security, or Engineering. 

Identify your needs

Now, let's look at your cybersecurity setup. This leader will need to identify the gaps and risks that need your attention. What threats are most likely to have an impact? Check the regulatory and industry standards you should follow. Evaluate the skills and resources you've got in-house and figure out what you might need to outsource or hire. By answering these questions, you can map out the goals and needs for your incident response framework and team. 

Choose main stakeholders

Putting together an incident response team isn't a one-size-fits-all solution. It depends on factors like your organization's size, complexity, and nature. You might need various roles to handle different aspects of the incident response process. Besides the team leader who coordinates and communicates with stakeholders, a security analyst helps investigate and analyze in investigating and analyzing incidents, a forensics expert collects and preserves, a remediation specialist to restore and secure systems, and a legal advisor to offer insights on legal and regulatory matters. Make sure to clearly define these roles and responsibilities, and document them in your incident response plan. Once you make your selection, you need to evaluate them to ensure they will be the right ones. 

Train the IRP team

Now it’s all set, the fun starts. You need to keep them sharp. Regular training to stay current with the latest threats, trends, and tools is crucial. Make sure they have the necessary equipment, software, and access to do their job effectively. Conduct simulations, drills, and exercises to assess their readiness, skills, and performance. Review and evaluate the results and feedback, identifying areas for improvement and learning. Don't forget to acknowledge and reward their achievements and contributions. 

Conduct a regular Stand-up Meeting

Cybersecurity is a dynamic field that demands continuous evolution, and your incident response team should be no exception. The best approach to conduct regular reviews of your team is through bi-weekly stand-up meetings, to evaluate their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges. Actively seek feedback from team members and other stakeholders to understand their perspectives on the incident response process. Utilize this feedback to adapt your incident response framework, roles, and responsibilities as necessary. Keep an eye out for opportunities to expand, diversify, or streamline your team to align with the growth and changes within your organization. Take an eye on Stress and Fatigue, reviewing their workload and activity levels will help you understand potential flaws in the team, and this might be crucial when an incident takes place. 

Does this sound like something your team still can't address? At Enveedo we designed a way to augment your existing security resources while adding any missing piece that addresses these considerations. If you want to find out how Enveedo can speed up the development of your cybersecurity program, feel free to check out our website or go ahead and schedule a demo!