1

Incident Response

Student's Name

Department and Institutional Affiliation

Course Title and Number

Instructor's Name

Due Date
 2

Incident Response

Introduction

Today, the digital landscape is marked by a speed of technological change and an

interconnectivity that calls for cyber resilience on the part of organizations in order for effective

cybersecurity. Along with the expanding application of technologies, cybercriminals have been

thriving, leading to a dramatic increase in cybersecurity threats (Van Leeuwen, 2022). Incident

response can be central to addressing disclosures of information, minimizing disruption to

business activities, and maintaining the company's reputation. Therefore, adopting a risk-based

cyber incident response approach enables organizations to be promptly informed about, report

on, and manage cyber incidents. This paper presents a total breach management plan that is

intended to deal with breaches involving personally identifiable information (PII). The strategy

will focus on defense, detection, recovery, regulatory compliance, cyber insurance, and

reporting. Senior management will also be equipped with resources to allow them to strengthen

cybersecurity against potential cyber threats preemptively.

Executing the Response to a Cyberattack

Making an appropriate response to cyberattacks needs an integrated approach consisting

of defense, detection, recovery, and response. Besides the commencement of proactive measures,

companies should be flexible and devoted to their response course. Defense acts as the very first

way of protection by implementing security techniques, such as firewalls, intrusion detection

systems, encryption, and secure authentications, to avoid any unauthorized access. Programs

established within the defense policy must be well integrated with organizational operations to

guarantee the security of the most valuable data and systems (Van Leeuwen, 2022). A system of

detection is inherent in expediting the detection of breaches since they occur or even as early as
 3

possible to reduce damages and collateral contamination. Efficient detection means detecting

inconsistencies through network activity tracking, log analyzing, and advanced analytics.

Devices should be tailored to allow immediate communication with responsible parties for

immediate response (Herald & David, 2018). Recovery steps up and works towards

normalization of the circumstances after an incident occurs. This involves assessing the harm,

withdrawing the interested systems or data, and restoring the organization's safety (Van

Leeuwen, 2022). Recovery procedures must include continuous business plans designed to

maintain critical functions or recover lost processes as soon as a breach occurs.

Response means taking immediate steps to eliminate or minimize a threat. This is done

through the following steps: system shutdown, stakeholder notification, and working in

partnership with relevant bodies such as law enforcement and security agencies when called for.

Developing an effective response plan is one of the most important aspects of limiting the

damage caused by the breach and combating it (NIST, 2018). When implementing these,

organizations are encouraged to look into the company objectives and patterns of leading

approaches that management will put forward. Consequently, the cyberattack countermeasure

should be technically correct and aligned with the organization's goals and risk tolerance (Herald

& David, 2018). By focusing on these main factors, organizations can develop an all-rounded

response strategy that efficiently handles risks caused by cyberattacks.

Breach Management Strategy

A carefully devised plan is needed to handle a breach of personally identifiable

information (PII) to minimize the damage and protect the organization and its stakeholders. The

Privacy Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) conceptualizes breaches as events that reveal or

possibly disclose data, giving unauthorized access to personal data (Ogbonna, 2020). A thorough
 4

breach management policy should be based on plan and procedure, creating an interconnected

and solid response framework.

The basic framework for response to breach is provided through a robust policy outlining

the process's purpose, goals, and scope. It indicates tasks, conditions, and personnel encounters.

The policy should include the means of reporting breaches, recovery, and a feedback system for

improvement (Van Leeuwen, 2022). The plan component captures all stages of incident

response, such as immediate reporting or fulfilling the legal obligations of affected parties, such

as notification of stakeholders and post-incident reviews. It establishes the needed resources and

draws support from management. The processes, however, determine the tasks and actions to

execute the plan and standardize the conduct for precise and repeatable performance. Conducting

regular reviews and tests of these procedures is the basis for their efficiency.

Technical and Strategic Options for Addressing a Breach

An organization needs to be well-regarded on both technical and strategic fronts when

such a breach of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) happens to handle the situation

well. From a technical viewpoint, it is essential to have a secure system that includes encryption,

access control, and monitoring functions so that the data will not fall into the wrong hands. These

steps, though, work as strong barriers that ultimately protect this information from falling into

the wrong persons. Moreover, organizations should use advanced detection tools to catch

intrusion attempts early and rapidly react to limit potential damage (Ogbonna, 2020). In a breach,

an immediate technical reaction should begin with isolating the compromised systems to stop

further penetration. At the same time, critical evidence should be reserved for future analysis,

and learning should be preserved.

On the strategic front, organizations should have a clear communication system for

reporting violations and ensure the key stakeholders are informed promptly and

accurately. Building an incident response team with designated roles and functions is crucial, as

it will facilitate effective management after a cyber-attack. This team must be experienced in all

the phases of breach handling, including containment, investigation, and recovery. An additional

policy aspect should include the comprehensive plan of action the organization will undertake to

handle its relationship with stakeholders during and after a breach (Ogbonna, 2020). The policy

should provide guidelines on involving stakeholders and dealing with PR, legal, and compliance

issues for the organization to remain trustworthy and compliant.

Breach Management Legal Issues

Compliance with the law, especially concerning personally identifiable information (PII),

is essential in effective data breach management. Unlawful data privacy law is one of the main

reasons why few organizations get sued, indicating an important need to have a strong data

protection plan and execute it well after a breach (Herald & David, 2018). Adobe case is a good

example. The timeline of the case was from 2013 to 2016. This case showed the consequences of

the lack of cybersecurity measures or inappropriate breach handling. The case highlighted to the

companies a need to have security data systems across the organizations and organized data

recovery plans for every data breach and possible legal suits.

Fundamental requirements include compliance with the relevant data protection laws,

breach management, and sufficient security to safeguard personally identifiable information

(PII). The plan also involves notifying duties, legal liabilities, and damage prevention (Ogbonna,

2020). Through studying legal issues and precedent court decisions, organizations will outline

which information leaks and the main concerns mentioned in the court decisions constitute
 6

illegal personal information. This proactive approach to legal issues makes it possible to identify

legal pitfalls and create legally sound and effective response strategies to data breaches.

Breach Management Cyber Insurance Options

Key Coverage Areas of Cyber Insurance Policies

Many cyber insurance policies cover numerous exposures caused by a PII breach. One

issue of note is data restoration, which indicates that insurance covers the expenses of replacing

the damaged or stolen data. The insurance also caters to business interruption losses, which

generally mean the loss of income during downtime. The policies also cover the expense of legal

services, and such a service proves essential if there is a lawsuit from injured people or the

authorities.

Furthermore, the policy incorporates alert and identity protection services, where the

policy covers the cost of alerting the people whose information could be compromised. It can be

in the form of identity theft protection or credit monitoring services to ensure that no individual

is denied any service because of this screw-up (Van Leeuwen, 2022). Additionally, cyber

insurance companies cover the expenses of hiring specialists to research the case and detect its

origin and the costs of managing the reputational damages in case they occur.

Not Covered by Most Cyber Insurance Policies

Although cyber insurance gives excellent coverage, ensuring the exclusions in this type

of insurance is crucial. While some policies do not cover unintentional breaches of duty

intentionally committed by insiders, organizations are liable for them. Moreover, regulatory

sanctions and penalties may not be included, leaving companies vulnerable to financial risks

from being penalized by government agencies. The likelihood of revenue losses due to reputation
 7

damage is not always insured (Ogbonna, 2020). Therefore, we must recognize the critical role of

cybersecurity. Companies should draft policies based on their particular risks and their peculiar

needs. The process involves the top management conducting a comprehensive assessment of the

possible risks and worker-specific risks like insider threats (NIST, 2018). Security policies must

be reviewed to prevent the risks of data breaches and their expensive consequences. Ultimately,

co-pays or deductibles must be provided to enable the alternative option in case of violation and

the organization suffers a financial crisis.

Breach Management Reporting and Other Requirements

Minimum Reporting Requirements for Financial Institutions

Financial institutions must comply with the information security regulations, which

require reporting data breaches within a reasonable time frame in order to maintain the

confidentiality of clients' data. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) requires institutions to

specify how they share their data and safeguard PII (Hodges, 2013). Moreover, electronic

financial data safekeeping and monitoring are regulated by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX). PCI

DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) compliance makes it necessary to report

data breaches when holding cardholder data. The Data Security and Breach Notification Act

(DSBNA) also requires within thirty days to disclose a violation with severe punishment if

hiding or late reporting is observed.

Standards to Prevent Additional Damage

Financial institutions should comply with regulations by implementing proper

management and data breach procedures to eliminate the chance of being fined or
 8

sanctioned. This involves timely notifying breaches, keeping the stakeholders updated, and

actively fixing vulnerabilities within the organization’s systems. The violation of regulations

results in heavy fines and can be the reason for distrust of clients.

Requirements for Other Industries

Although financial organizations are under some industry-specific regulations, they may

share the same rules with others. For instance, healthcare personnel must adhere to the HIPAA –

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act – which concerns privacy and health

information security and reports breaches. Even though other sectors have set up sector-specific

standards and regulations, this factor is isolating as it puts the duty of reporting and handling the

leaks on these sectors. Such criteria may be anything from the economic sector of the business,

such as if the company is critical to the supply chain and the current regulations. Companies

must pay close attention to the rules tailored to their industry to avoid injury aggravation and

high compliance.

Proposal

Organizations must contend with legal risk, financial implications, reputation problems,

regulatory compliance and other serious considerations when there is a breach of personally

identifiable information (PII). Mitigation strategies should include strong security measures,

employee training sessions, and practical actions responding to such attacks. Cyber insurance

policies cover such losses as confidential information loss, operational failures, reputational

damages and regulatory fines. Personalized regulatory responses such as banks' compliance with

the GLBA and healthcare organizations' adherence to the HIPAA are crucial to prevent sanctions
 9

and retain customers' confidence. Regulatory requirements should be aligned with them to ensure

proactive compliance, and risks should be managed successfully.

Conclusion

A data breach management plan should be all-encompassing and include measures, plans,

and actions in case the PII is leaked. The critical system elements that should be carefully

planned are regulatory compliance, system security and communication with other stakeholders.

Organizations must pay attention to prevention, detection, response, and recovery, and cyber

insurance must be considered a risk mitigation solution. The overall plan will anchor on

consistent training, active surveillance, incident management protocols and adherence to

consumer laws and regulations to prevent damage to the brand image and customer trust.
 10

References

Herald, N. E., & David, M. W. (2018, December). A Framework for Making Effective

Responses to Cyberattacks. In 2018 IEEE International Conference on Big Data (Big

Data) (pp. 4798-4805). IEEE.

Hodges, S. (2013). Examining the Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act's opt-out method for protecting

consumer data privacy rights on the Internet. Information & Communications

Technology Law, 22(1), 60-85.

NIST. (2018). NIST, Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity. Retrieved

from https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/CSWP/NIST.CSWP.04162018.pdf

Ogbonna, L. (2020). Technical strategies database managers use to protect systems from

security breaches (Doctoral dissertation, Walden University).

https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?

article=9379&context=dissertations

Van Leeuwen, R. (2022). Cyber-Attack Containment through Actionable Awareness (Doctoral

dissertation, Doctoral dissertation, Master’s thesis. Technical University of Eindhoven).

https://pure.tue.nl/ws/portalfiles/portal/211751524/Leeuwen_R.pdf