From Paper To Practice: The Real Value of a Cyber Incident Response Plan

Author: Jack Morris

Cyber incidents are an ever-present threat to organisations of all sizes. While many companies have documented Cyber Incident Response (CIR) plans, they often fall short when it comes to real-world application. Below, we will explore the limitations of these documented plans, the critical steps of putting such plans into practice, and the added benefits of gamified tabletop exercises for law firms, corporations, and insurers.

Limitations of Documented CIR Plans

There are several present limitations to documented CIR plans that must be noted when preparing for a cyber-attack:

1. Static Nature: The nature of documented CIR plans often does not account for the dynamic component of cyber threats. These incidents evolve rapidly, and a plan that was relevant a year ago may not be effective against today’s sophisticated attacks. Even the most strategic response plans cannot always adapt to the nuances of a cyber attack; this unpredictable nature requires interactive review and preparation. In the wake of technological developments, it is critical to routinely strategise for when a cyber incident occurs.
2. Employee Training and Preparedness: One of the most significant limitations of CIR plans is the reliance on human memory and action. Employees may forget the steps outlined in a CIR plan or not know where to find the plan to begin with. For this reason, repetitive employee training equips teams to effectively implement your response plan. Traditional training methods, such as PowerPoint presentations, can be unengaging and fail to capture the attention of employees. This lack of engagement results in poor recall and retention of critical information, exposing a need for repetitive education to enhance recall during the eye of a cyber storm.
3. Requires Regular Review: Many organisations fail to update their response plans regularly. With regular changes in personnel, technology, and business processes, CIR plans may become obsolete if they are not revisited and revised periodically.
4. Merely a Tick Box: For some organisations, creating a documented plan is merely a tick-box exercise to satisfy regulatory requirements. These plans may not be tested or integrated into the organisation’s daily operations. Without this intention, many teams lack engagement with documents, which increases the possibility for human error. Given the influx of sensitive data at risk, engagement is critical in preparing for and managing the aftermath of a data breach.

Putting a Response Plan Into Practice

Practising the implementation of CIR plans helps employees understand their roles during a cyber incident and ensures that they execute the plan effectively while under the pressure of a real crisis. Regular practice also fosters better coordination among different teams within the organisation, such as IT, legal, and PR. It ensures that everyone knows who to contact and what actions to take, reducing confusion during a crisis. Routine testing of a CIR plan exposes existing weaknesses and creates the opportunity to remedy any risk associated.

The Benefits of Gamified Tabletop Exercises

The development of gamified interactive tabletop exercises provides additional insight when implementing strong CIR plans. These exercises are designed to be highly engaging, making it easier for employees to retain critical information. They simulate real-world scenarios and require participants to make decisions, enhancing their understanding and recall of the response plan when an incident occurs.

Unlike static training methods, gamified exercises adapt to decisions made by participants. This dynamic approach helps employees understand the impact of their choices across the business, such as regulatory compliance, litigation profiles, and operational continuity. This holistic view of the incident response process allows participants to learn how their actions affect different areas of the organisation while fostering a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of their roles.

For law firms, gamified tabletop exercises offer a granular understanding of their clients’ vulnerabilities. From these exercises, firms gain the insight to navigate the adoption of CIR plans from the eyes of their clients. This perspective enables them to provide more targeted advice and support, strengthening response plans to navigate past the expected elements and reduce the waves of impact from cyber incidents.

Corporations benefit from these exercises by minimising financial losses and ensuring business continuity. They comply with regulatory requirements more effectively and maintain their reputation by managing public relations during a crisis.

Insurers can use gamified exercises to assess the cyber resilience of their clients. This helps them offer better coverage terms and reduces the risk of insuring organisations that are unprepared for cyber incidents.

While many organisations recognise that documented Cyber Incident Response plans are essential, they have several limitations that can hinder their effectiveness during a crisis. By engaging employees, identifying weaknesses, and improving coordination, organisations enhance their cyber resilience and are better prepared to respond to incidents.

Learn more about Epiq Cyber Incident Response resources.

Jack Morris, Account Director, Legal Solutions

Jack is Epiq EMEA’s cyber expert, and account director, operating out of the United Kingdom. He advises organisations, law firms, and cyber insurers on best practices for proactively mitigating the risk of a cyber incident and effectively responding once a cyber incident occurs.