Peter Kanai

Blog Keywords:​​ ​cyber​ ​attack​ ​recovery​,​ ​disaster​ ​recovery​ ​from​ ​cyber​ ​attack Title​ ​Tag:​​ ​Cyber​ ​Attack​ ​Recovery​​ ​|​ ​NIC​ ​|​ ​Managed​ ​Security​ ​Services Meta​ ​Description:​​ ​Need​ ​help​ ​with​ ​cyber​ ​attack​ ​recovery​?​ ​Consult​ ​cyber​ ​security​ ​experts​ ​at​ ​NIC to​ ​discuss​ ​the​ ​best​ ​disaster​ ​recovery​ ​options​ ​for​ ​your​ ​company.​ ​Talk​ ​to​ ​us! Recovering​ ​From​ ​a​ ​Cyber​ ​Attack:​ ​What​ ​to​ ​Expect Technology​ ​is​ ​rapidly​ ​evolving​ ​with​ ​new​ ​innovations​ ​being​ ​made​ ​every​ ​day,​ ​making​ ​day-to-day life​ ​convenient​ ​for​ ​everyone.​ ​Unfortunately,​ ​the​ ​biggest​ ​downfall​ ​in​ ​today’s​ ​connected​ ​world​ ​is the​ ​lack​ ​of​ ​adequate​ ​security.​ ​IT​ ​managers​ ​and​ ​cyber​ ​security​ ​experts​ ​the​ ​world​ ​over​ ​agree​ ​that cyber​ ​attacks​ ​are​ ​a​ ​great​ ​threat​ ​to​ ​businesses​ ​and​ ​even​ ​individual​ ​privacy. With​ ​high-profile​ ​data​ ​breaches​ ​being​ ​recorded​ ​almost​ ​every​ ​year,​ ​there​ ​is​ ​a​ ​growing​ ​concern on​ ​how​ ​organizations​ ​are​ ​prepared​ ​for​ ​potential​ ​data​ ​breaches​ ​and​ c​ yber​ ​attack​ ​recovery​.​ ​In​ ​the event​ ​of​ ​a​ ​cybersecurity​ ​incident​ ​or​ ​a​ ​data​ ​breach​ ​in​ ​your​ ​company,​ ​there​ ​are​ ​immediate​ ​steps that​ ​need​ ​to​ ​be​ ​taken​ ​to​ ​limit​ ​the​ ​damage​ ​and​ ​begin​ ​the​ ​lengthy​ ​remediation​ ​process. Below​ ​is​ ​an​ ​expert’s​ ​insight​ ​on​ ​what​ ​to​ ​expect​ ​after​ ​a​ ​cyber​ ​attack​ ​and​ ​what​ ​you​ ​should​ ​do. Identify​ ​the​ ​Type​ ​of​ ​Cyber​ ​Attack Identifying​ ​the​ ​type​ ​of​ ​attack​ ​is​ ​the​ ​first​ ​step​ ​towards​ ​disaster​ ​recovery​ ​from​ ​cyber​ ​attack​. Unfortunately,​ ​it’s​ ​not​ ​as​ ​easy​ ​as​ ​it​ ​sounds.​ ​Reports​ ​have​ ​shown​ ​that​ ​many​ ​companies​ ​are​ ​now aware​ ​of​ ​a​ ​cyberattack​ ​until​ ​at​ ​least​ ​200​ ​days​ ​after​ ​the​ ​initial​ ​breach.​ ​Timing​ ​is​ ​critical​ ​once​ ​the issue​ ​has​ ​been​ ​brought​ ​to​ ​your​ ​attention​ ​so​ ​that​ ​you​ ​can​ ​take​ ​the​ ​necessary​ ​steps​ ​to​ ​contain​ ​it. First,​ ​you’ll​ ​need​ ​hard​ ​facts​ ​regarding​ ​the​ ​cyberattack​ ​or​ ​data​ ​breach,​ ​vital​ ​information​ ​that​ ​is hard​ ​to​ ​ascertain​ ​immediately.​ ​Normally,​ ​cyber​ ​attack​ ​recovery​​ ​policies​ ​dictate​ ​that​ ​companies should​ ​have​ ​effective​ ​response​ ​plans​ ​in​ ​case​ ​of​ ​a​ ​breach,​ ​but​ ​few​ ​in​ ​between​ ​have​ ​such​ ​plans in​ ​place.​ ​A​ ​crisis​ ​communication​ ​team​ ​should​ ​be​ ​in​ ​place​ ​to​ ​answer​ ​critical​ ​questions​ ​that​ ​will provide​ ​more​ ​insights​ ​into​ ​the​ ​extent​ ​of​ ​the​ ​attack. ● ● ● ● ● ● When​ ​was​ ​the​ ​cyberattack​ ​noticed? What​ ​information​ ​assets​ ​have​ ​been​ ​affected? What​ ​type​ ​of​ ​breach​ ​or​ ​cyber​ ​attack​ ​is​ ​it? Who​ ​is​ ​affected? Who​ ​is​ ​behind​ ​the​ ​attack​ ​and​ ​do​ ​they​ ​have​ ​an​ ​agenda? What​ ​or​ ​who​ ​was​ ​the​ ​target​ ​of​ ​the​ ​cyberattack? Contain​ ​and​ ​Isolate​ ​the​ ​Damage Any​ ​cyberattack​ ​or​ ​data​ ​breach​ ​on​ ​your​ ​organization​ ​or​ ​critical​ ​systems​ ​should​ ​be​ ​treated​ ​as​ ​the same​ ​way​ ​firefighters​ ​handle​ ​a​ ​fire.​ ​All​ ​affected​ ​areas​ ​that​ ​have​ ​been​ ​breached​ ​should immediately​ ​be​ ​isolated​ ​to​ ​prevent​ ​further​ ​intrusion,​ ​spreading​ ​of​ ​the​ ​infection​ ​and​ ​prevent additional​ ​vulnerabilities. To​ ​contain​ ​the​ ​breach,​ ​you​ ​need​ ​to​ ​have​ ​a​ ​task​ ​force​ ​comprising​ ​of​ ​IT​ ​experts,​ ​senior executives,​ ​public​ ​relations​ ​professionals​ ​and​ ​legal​ ​counsel​ ​ready​ ​to​ ​spring​ ​into​ ​action.​ ​To ensure​ ​a​ ​smooth​ ​cyber​ ​attack​ ​recovery​​ ​process,​ ​organizations​ ​should​ ​have​ ​a​ ​team​ ​of​ ​IT​ ​experts specializing​ ​in​ ​cybersecurity.​ ​The​ ​team​ ​should​ ​be​ ​prepared​ ​to: ● Quarantine​ ​any​ ​breached​ ​servers,​ ​systems​ ​and​ ​devices​ ​so​ ​they​ ​can​ ​be​ ​thoroughly examined​ ​to​ ​identify​ ​the​ ​scope​ ​of​ ​the​ ​attack. ● Separate​ ​all​ ​vital​ ​and​ ​sensitive​ ​data​ ​from​ ​the​ ​breached​ ​network.​ ​If​ ​data​ ​is​ ​not​ ​encrypted, it​ ​should​ ​be​ ​done​ ​immediately.​ ​This​ ​is​ ​critical​ ​in​ ​disaster​ ​recovery​ ​from​ ​cyber​ ​attack​. ● Reset​ ​all​ ​points​ ​of​ ​access​ ​including​ ​their​ ​logins.​ ​Consider​ ​using​ ​two-factor​ ​authentication to​ ​improve​ ​security. ● Reinstall​ ​all​ ​affected​ ​programs,​ ​operating​ ​systems​ ​and​ ​files​ ​to​ ​halt​ ​the​ ​attack​ ​or​ ​infection. ● Disconnect​ ​all​ ​the​ ​affected​ ​hosts​ ​and​ ​apply​ ​security​ ​patches​ ​to​ ​all​ ​your​ ​programs​ ​and operating​ ​systems. ● Identify​ ​and​ ​remove​ ​the​ ​files​ ​installed​ ​by​ ​the​ ​attack​ ​and​ ​have​ ​them​ ​analyzed​ ​by cybersecurity​ ​experts. Start​ ​the​ ​Remediation​ ​Process This​ ​is​ ​perhaps​ ​the​ ​most​ ​challenging​ ​part​ ​of​ ​any​ ​cyber​ ​attack​ ​recovery​​ ​process.​ ​This​ ​is​ ​where the​ ​reality​ ​of​ ​a​ ​cyber​ ​attack​ ​sinks​ ​in​ ​for​ ​most​ ​victims.​ ​Your​ ​remediation​ ​team​ ​will​ ​assess​ ​the damage​ ​done​ ​and​ ​develop​ ​a​ ​response​ ​plan​ ​that​ ​will​ ​clean​ ​up​ ​the​ ​mess.​ ​During​ ​this​ ​process, communication​ ​and​ ​keeping​ ​records​ ​of​ ​all​ ​findings​ ​is​ ​critical. Records​ ​will​ ​form​ ​the​ ​baseline​ ​from​ ​which​ ​you’ll​ ​determine​ ​if​ ​the​ ​right​ ​steps​ ​or​ ​measures​ ​were taken​ ​to​ ​handle​ ​the​ ​cyberattack​ ​in​ ​the​ ​best​ ​way​ ​possible.​ ​Your​ ​task​ ​force​ ​should​ ​be​ ​ready​ ​to identify​ ​and​ ​establish​ ​a​ ​hierarchy​ ​of​ ​needs​ ​and​ ​priorities​ ​by​ ​focusing​ ​on​ ​the​ ​most​ ​critical​ ​areas​ ​in the​ ​initial​ ​aftermath​ ​of​ ​a​ ​cyberattack,​ ​eventually​ ​handling​ ​the​ ​other​ ​areas​ ​until​ ​the​ ​whole remediation​ ​process​ ​is​ ​complete. Develop​ ​a​ ​Smart​ ​Communication​ ​Strategy Have​ ​your​ ​crisis​ ​communications​ ​team​ ​ready​ ​to​ ​identify​ ​the​ ​affected​ ​people​ ​that​ ​need​ ​to​ ​be informed​ ​about​ ​the​ ​cyberattack​ ​or​ ​data​ ​breach.​ ​Normally,​ ​in​ ​any​ c​ yber​ ​attack​ ​recovery​​ ​process, you’ll​ ​have​ ​to​ ​address​ ​both​ ​internal​ ​and​ ​external​ ​audiences.​ ​Start​ ​by​ ​informing​ ​your​ ​employees, business​ ​partners​ ​and​ ​stakeholders​ ​and​ ​then​ ​your​ ​clients/customers​ ​and​ ​the​ ​general​ ​public. Decide​ ​the​ ​manner​ ​in​ ​which​ ​communication​ ​will​ ​be​ ​done,​ ​how​ ​the​ ​messages​ ​will​ ​be​ ​delivered and​ ​the​ ​exact​ ​timing​ ​for​ ​each​ ​to​ ​avoid​ ​a​ ​PR​ ​crisis.​ ​It’s​ ​a​ ​well-known​ ​fact​ ​that​ ​most​ ​large organizations​ ​don’t​ ​communicate​ ​about​ ​data​ ​breaches​ ​promptly.​ ​As​ ​part​ ​of​ d ​ isaster​ ​recovery from​ ​cyber​ ​attack​,​ ​you​ ​must​ ​act​ ​quickly​ ​once​ ​you​ ​have​ ​identified​ ​a​ ​breach,​ ​and​ ​have​ ​a​ ​response plan​ ​to​ ​deal​ ​with​ ​the​ ​attack. While​ ​it’s​ ​prudent​ ​to​ ​share​ ​as​ ​much​ ​information​ ​as​ ​you​ ​can​ ​about​ ​the​ ​breach,​ ​you​ ​must​ ​maintain a​ ​balance​ ​between​ ​transparency​ ​and​ ​oversharing​ ​before​ ​the​ ​whole​ ​issue​ ​is​ ​resolved​ ​fully.​ ​At​ ​the very​ ​least,​ ​communicate​ ​that​ ​there​ ​was​ ​a​ ​breach​ ​and​ ​the​ ​company​ ​is​ ​doing​ ​everything​ ​possible to​ ​handle​ ​it.​ ​Multiple​ ​status​ ​updates​ ​should​ ​also​ ​be​ ​provided​ ​to​ ​build​ ​and​ ​maintain​ ​trust. Prevent​ ​Future​ ​Data​ ​Breaches Dealing​ ​with​ ​a​ ​data​ ​breach​ ​can​ ​be​ ​devastating​ ​for​ ​any​ ​business.​ ​The​ ​possibility​ ​of​ ​losing valuable​ ​customers​ ​and​ ​facing​ ​law​ ​suits​ ​due​ ​to​ ​private​ ​data​ ​breaches​ ​is​ ​something​ ​you​ ​don’t want​ ​on​ ​your​ ​hands.​ ​That’s​ ​why​ ​it’s​ ​always​ ​important​ ​to​ ​have​ ​a​ ​team​ ​of​ ​cybersecurity​ ​experts​ ​on board​ ​to​ ​help​ ​with​ ​cyber​ ​attack​ ​recovery​​ ​in​ ​the​ ​event​ ​of​ ​a​ ​breach. According​ ​to​ ​IBM,​ ​enlisting​ ​the​ ​services​ ​of​ ​cybersecurity​ ​professionals​ ​can​ ​actually​ ​save​ ​you millions​ ​as​ ​your​ ​organization​ ​aims​ ​to​ ​deal​ ​with​ ​a​ ​cyber​ ​attack​ ​and​ ​respond​ ​accordingly.​ ​To prevent​ ​future​ ​data​ ​breaches,​ ​you​ ​should​ ​invest​ ​in​ ​the​ ​latest​ ​online​ ​security​ ​technologies, cybersecurity​ ​intelligence​ ​systems,​ ​encryption​ ​technology,​ ​identity​ ​and​ ​access​ ​management​ ​and advanced​ ​firewalls.​ ​An​ ​internal​ ​incident​ ​reporting​ ​and​ ​response​ ​team​ ​should​ ​also​ ​be​ ​in​ ​place. Prepare​ ​Your​ ​Legal​ ​Defense If​ ​you​ ​have​ ​information​ ​that​ ​has​ ​been​ ​compromised​ ​after​ ​a​ ​cyberattack,​ ​you​ ​should​ ​brace yourself​ ​for​ ​potential​ ​class-action​ ​lawsuits.​ ​With​ ​the​ ​recent​ ​high-level​ ​data​ ​breaches,​ ​the​ ​number of​ ​customers​ ​and​ ​clients​ ​suing​ ​companies​ ​has​ ​been​ ​rising.​ ​It’s​ ​wise​ ​to​ ​prepare​ ​for​ ​the​ ​possibility of​ ​being​ ​taken​ ​to​ ​court​ ​for​ ​allowing​ ​hackers​ ​to​ ​access​ ​sensitive​ ​data. Business​ ​owners​ ​are​ ​advised​ ​to​ ​form​ ​a​ ​relationship​ ​with​ ​local​ ​law​ ​enforcement​ ​offices​ ​before​ ​an attack​ ​happens.​ ​Having​ ​a​ ​point​ ​of​ ​contact​ ​is​ ​critical​ ​in​ ​disaster​ ​recovery​ ​from​ ​cyber​ ​attack​​ ​so​ ​you can​ ​report​ ​a​ ​cyber​ ​attack​ ​incident​ ​immediately​ ​after​ ​it​ ​happens.​ ​Also,​ ​retain​ ​a​ ​legal​ ​team​ ​that specializes​ ​in​ ​cybersecurity​ ​and​ ​incident​ ​management​ ​before​ ​any​ ​breach​ ​happens. The​ ​Bottomline As​ ​experts​ ​always​ ​say,​ ​the​ ​best​ ​defense​ ​is​ ​a​ ​good​ ​offense.​ ​Organizations​ ​must​ ​be​ ​more proactive​ ​in​ ​preventing​ ​cyber​ ​attacks​ ​from​ ​happening​ ​in​ ​the​ ​first​ ​place.​ ​According​ ​to​ ​NIC,​ ​a cybersecurity​ ​solutions​ ​provider,​ ​up​ ​to​ ​66%​ ​of​ ​data​ ​breaches​ ​are​ ​as​ ​a​ ​result​ ​of​ ​employee negligence.​ ​Organizations​ ​must​ ​have​ ​in​ ​place​ ​strict​ ​cybersecurity​ ​policies​ ​and​ ​also​ ​train​ ​their employees​ ​in​ ​cybersecurity​ ​best​ ​practices. At​ ​NIC,​ ​we​ ​offer​ ​cybersecurity​ ​solutions​ ​that​ ​help​ ​you​ ​recover​ ​quickly​ ​in​ ​case​ ​of​ ​a​ ​breach.​ ​With our​ ​cyber​ ​attack​ ​recovery​​ ​solutions,​ ​your​ ​customers​ ​will​ ​appreciate​ ​the​ ​fact​ ​that​ ​you’ve​ ​taken quick​ ​action​ ​to​ ​protect​ ​them​ ​and​ ​their​ ​data,​ ​which​ ​goes​ ​a​ ​long​ ​way​ ​to​ ​maintaining​ ​and​ ​building​ ​a stronger​ ​and​ ​successful​ ​business​ ​relationship​ ​in​ ​light​ ​of​ ​a​ ​data​ ​breach. Images: Banner:​ ​http://allhands.coastguard.dodlive.mil/files/2017/05/170420-G-SI-.jpg​​ ​(Cyber attack​ ​recovery) Image​ ​1:​ ​https://static.pexels.com/photos/70292/pexels-photo-70292.jpeg​​ ​(Cyber​ ​attack analysis) Image​ ​2: http://maxpixel.freegreatpicture.com/static/photo/1x/Business-Team-Two-People-Meeting-Comp uters-Office-.jpg​​ ​(Cyber​ ​security​ ​plan) Image​ ​3:​ ​https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3616/-_fd591a7d89_b.jpg​​ ​(Improving​ ​cyber security) Image​ ​4: http://maxpixel.freegreatpicture.com/static/photo/1x/Businessman-Tablet-Computer-Online-Busi ness-Man-.jpg​​ ​(Cyber​ ​security​ ​professionals)