Cybersecurity is a pressing concern for virtually every organization in today’s digital world. From simplistic phishing attacks to malware developed by sophisticated nation-state actors, organizations face an unprecedented array of threats and growing concern over the potential impact a security incident might have on their operations.

Leaders see other firms suffer from reputational damage after breaches of personally identifiable information involving their customers and employees. Managers watch other firms crippled by ransomware struggle to restore operations.

Building a strong, capable cybersecurity incident response program creates resilience against these threats. An organization that quickly detects security incidents as they occur can move rapidly to contain and eradicate the threat and return to normal operations more quickly.

As they move to establish an effective incident response program, organizations should start by addressing three critical questions:

• Why has incident response become a key element of cybersecurity?
• What solutions and services are essential for incident response?
• What are the key elements of an effective incident response strategy?

The answers to these questions should form the basis of a robust incident response capability composed of trained staff, effective technology and responsive service providers.