Source: Help Net Security
Author: Help Net Security
URL: https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2025/03/20/incident-response-pitfalls/
## ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY:
CISOs must enhance cyber incident response by avoiding common pitfalls, improving planning, communication, exercises, security, and automation for better preparedness.
## MAIN POINTS:
1. Cyber incident response requires more than technical recovery; it must address business impact, reputation, and legal ramifications.
2. An effective response plan should define roles, escalation paths, communication strategies, and be regularly updated.
3. Tabletop exercises must be customized, internally owned, and frequently conducted to ensure realistic and actionable insights.
4. Lack of timely information sharing can lead to confusion, downtime, and regulatory penalties during an incident.
5. Coordination across multiple business functions is crucial for effective cyber incident response.
6. Secure, out-of-band communication channels are essential to prevent attackers from accessing response strategies.
7. Corporate communication tools may be compromised, necessitating independent backup systems for incident coordination.
8. Manual response processes slow reaction times; automation can streamline decision-making and improve efficiency.
9. Dynamic, automated response playbooks enable faster, more accurate incident handling.
10. Proactive identification of weaknesses strengthens an organization’s overall cyber resilience and response effectiveness.
## TAKEAWAYS:
1. Incident response must go beyond technical fixes to include legal, reputational, and business considerations.
2. Regularly updated and tested response plans are essential for effective cyber incident management.
3. Customized, frequent tabletop exercises improve response readiness and prevent them from becoming mere checkbox activities.
4. Secure, independent communication channels are necessary to protect response efforts from attackers.
5. Automation and dynamic playbooks enhance response speed, accuracy, and efficiency.