Incident Response Readiness: Why Emergency Plans Alone Are Not Enough
“We have a contingency plan.” This statement reassures many executives—but is it justified? The truth is: a contingency plan that has never been tested provides a false sense of security. When a cyberattack occurs, every second counts. Incident response readiness means being prepared before it happens.
The Four Dimensions of True Readiness
- Documentation: A clear plan outlining processes, roles, and decision-making procedures
- Exercise: Regular simulations under realistic conditions
- Preparation: Technical and forensic infrastructure that is available in an emergency
- Communication: Internal and External Communication Strategy for Crisis Situations
Tabletop Exercises: The Underrated Game-Changer
Tabletop exercises are simulated attack scenarios that are run through in a conference room. A ransomware attack is detected. What happens next? Who makes the decisions? Typical takeaways:
- Decision-making processes are unclear
- Contact lists are out of date or not available offline
- External service providers (forensics, crisis communications) are not involved in the pre-contractual phase
- Communication between IT and management breaks down under pressure
Roles and decision-making processes
In a crisis, there is no time for discussion. These roles must be clearly defined: Incident Commander, Technical Lead, Communications Lead, Legal/Compliance, and Executive Sponsor at the executive level.
Forensic Preparation
Forensic evidence must be preserved—before systems are wiped clean. Organizations that lack a log retention strategy and have not engaged a forensic service provider in advance risk losing valuable evidence in the event of an incident.
Communication in a Crisis
- GDPR: Obligation to report to the data protection authority within 72 hours
- NIS-2: 24-hour initial notification to the BSI
- Designate a single point of contact for media inquiries
Axsos supports your incident response readiness—from developing plans and conducting tabletop exercises to setting up technical forensic infrastructure. Contact us.