The Basics of Incident Response for SMBs

Incident response is a critical component of any organization’s cybersecurity strategy. It is the process of identifying, containing, and mitigating the impact of a security incident. This process is essential for small and medium-sized organizations (SMBs) as they are just as vulnerable to cyber threats as larger organizations.

One of the main reasons incident response is necessary for SMBs is that they are often targeted by cybercriminals. According to the 2019 Data Breach Investigations Report by Verizon, 43% of cyber attacks target small business. This is because SMBs are perceived as being less secure than larger organizations and, therefore, an easier target. Additionally, SMBs often have fewer resources to devote to cybersecurity, making them more vulnerable to attacks.

SECURITY INCIDENT CONSEQUENCES

Another reason incident response is necessary for SMBs is that the consequences of a security incident can be severe. A successful cyber attack can result in:

• the loss of sensitive data
• financial losses
• damage to the organization’s reputation.

These consequences can be devastating for a small or medium-sized organization, as they may not have the resources to recover from such an incident.

REGULATIONS AND COMPLIANCE

Incident response helps SMBs to comply with regulations and laws, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which are designed to protect sensitive information and personal data. These regulations require organizations to have incident response procedures in place to ensure that they can respond quickly and effectively to a security incident.

One of the most important steps in incident response is the identification of an incident. This can be challenging for SMBs, as they may not have the resources or expertise to detect a security incident. However, there are a number of tools and techniques that can be used to help SMBs detect security incidents. These include:

• intrusion detection systems
• intrusion prevention systems
• security information and event management (SIEM) systems

Once an incident has been identified, the next step is to contain it. This involves taking steps to prevent the incident from spreading further and causing more damage. This can be done by isolating affected systems and networks, shutting down affected services, and implementing other containment measures.

The final step in incident response is to mitigate the impact of the incident. This involves identifying the cause of the incident and taking steps to prevent it from happening again in the future. This may involve patching vulnerabilities, implementing new security controls, and training employees on cybersecurity best practices.

Incident response is a necessary component of any organization’s cybersecurity strategy, including small and medium-sized organizations. These organizations are just as vulnerable to cyber threats as larger organizations and, therefore, must have incident response procedures in place to ensure that they can respond quickly and effectively to a security incident.

And finally, incident response can help SMBs comply with regulations and laws, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). By implementing incident response, SMBs can minimize the impact of a security incident, reduce the risk of future incidents, and ensure that they can recover quickly from any incident that does occur.

To learn more about how to assess your organization’s Incident Response capabilities and preparedness, reach out to IMPACT GROUP, we’ll be happy to work with you on this very important aspect of your information security program.

George Bakalov

*George Bakalov is the Director of Cybersecurity at IMPACT Group, a leading Twin Cities Managed Service Provider, helping Minnesota-based organizations manage through and navigate the complexities and challenges of IT, among which is cybersecurity. Click here to get in touch with him and our team, and to discuss your strategic or immediate IT needs.