The IT security specialists who are most familiar with their industry and cybersecurity posture are always a part of an effective incident response (IR). But who is responsible for responding to incidents in reality, and what are the best practices?

Let’s define “response” first.

Because of the ambiguity of the word “incident response,” cybersecurity vendors and IT specialists sometimes misunderstand one another. It’s crucial to keep in mind that “reaction” happens in stages. “See Something? Say Something” is the Department of Homeland Security’s catchphrase when it comes to cybersecurity surveillance. Apply “Say Something!” So, first and foremost, make sure you have broad attack surface coverage, in-depth threat intelligence, and intelligent incident correlation so you can SEE more threats.

 

Who owns “Response” ?

As you can undoubtedly see, no one party can truly claim ownership of every aspect of the response. There is no outsourcing of the reality that the organization affected will eventually bear responsibility. To establish swim lanes of responsibility, you should collaborate with your trusted cybersecurity partner to develop an incident response playbook.

In addition, acknowledge that it takes a village to respond and decide who is the greatest fit for each IR function. We suggest that the 24×7 Managed Extended Detection & Response (MXDR) provider be in charge of monitoring, otherwise known as “See Something,” as well as the initial response, otherwise known as “Say Something”…and even some of the “Do Something.” With continuous monitoring, proactive threat hunting, automated and guided remediation, and extensive attack surface coverage, MXDR’s capabilities aid in the earlier identification of threats. The organization’s IT team (or MSP if IT is outsourced) should be in charge of taking additional action, making practical system modifications, and changing rules to stop such incidents from happening again.

Best Practices

Once you’ve determined the swimlanes in your IR playbook, here are some best practices we recommend.

 

1. Enlist 24×7 Managed Detection & Response Professionals

Managed security companies like CYB3R-X familiarize themselves with your environment, keep constant tabs on it, and provide guided threat response. To speed up and improve your IR response rates, take into account a combination of knowledgeable security analysts and an open XDR platform. In case of a breach, team up with them for hands-on Digital Forensics and Incident Response (DFIR).

2. Leverage Automated Incident Response as a Force Multiplier

Automated response capabilities use workflows to take immediate triage actions, automate remedial tasks, and orchestrate activity between multiple systems. For example, an automated response workflow could include:

  • Terminating unknown processes immediately
  • Monitoring propagation of suspected malware
  • Suspending accounts that violate policies
  • Generating an incident report in your management platform

3. Share the Load

By working with a dedicated Managed XDR partner who guides you through defining your SecOps runbook and Incident Response playbook, you can free up your team to work on other projects while being ready to respond to cybersecurity incidents quickly and efficiently.

 

How can CYB3R-X help?

CYB3R-X offers both automated response by our Open XDR platform and guided remediation by our 24×7 SOC. Our SOC experts work with you to create a more efficient response that uses less of your organization’s resources. Learn more about CYB3R-X Incident Response 

Reach out to us to learn more about how we can help manage your Incident Response.