Recent history has shown us that businesses of any size are at risk of a cyber-attack. These attacks can happen at any moment, so it’s essential to be prepared. The time it takes to identify a breach greatly impacts the extent of the damage caused. Because of this, cybersecurity experts have stated that, in order to orchestrate a perfect response, businesses must follow the 1-10-60 rule: one minute to detect, ten minutes to investigate, and sixty minutes to remediate. Let’s quickly explore why the pillars of this rule are so meaningful.
The Importance of a Quick Response
A quick response is vital for minimizing damage and recovering stolen data. Early detection is the first step in mitigating the impact of attacks such as spear-phishing, ransomware, and distributed denial of service (DDoS). Failing to respond quickly can result in financial losses, reputational damage, and irreversible data loss. Even the best cybersecurity measures can be breached, making efficient and prompt detection and remediation essential components of any security strategy.
44% of businesses identify slow detection as a key factor in the severity of breaches. Striving toward a faster response time is a valuable goal for any organization to possess and could lead to measurable improvements in a business’s defenses. Overall, real-time threat detection is critical for reducing the impact of cyber-attacks.
Dealing with a Cyberattack
Once a breach is detected, immediate investigation is necessary to determine the nature and extent of the attack. However, one source found that it often takes over six hours to investigate a breach, and only 53% of victims actually discover the attacker responsible. It is crucial to have comprehensive knowledge of your infrastructure and security measures and to track cyber activity within your digital environment. This knowledge could help reduce the time it takes to investigate the breach and get closer to the 10-minute benchmark. Additionally, minimizing further damage requires specialized skills, tools, and processes. Incident response personnel should have relevant training, and clear communication channels must be established to ensure an effective response.
Getting Back on Track
Organizations take an average of 31 hours to contain a threat, often needing up to a full week to fully resolve the breach. Prolonged response times can result in significant repercussions beyond financial losses. Having an effective plan in place is key to a quick response. A proactive approach to cybersecurity is essential for survival during an attack.
After analysis, the focus shifts to containment and remediation:
- Identify the source of the attack.
- Remove the threat.
- Restore systems to normal operations quickly.
Putting measures in place to adhere to the 1-10-60 rule can significantly reduce exposure to cybersecurity threats and minimize the impact of potential breaches. However, every situation is unique, so it is essential to have a solid incident response plan in place and to regularly test and refine this plan to stay ahead of new threats.
Tips to Help Meet the Rule
To safeguard your business against cyber threats, it is crucial to keep cybersecurity protocols and technology current and reliable. Invest in dependable and effective cybersecurity response teams and strategies, and educate employees on efficient and effective response practices. Regular security audits and assessments should be performed to proactively identify vulnerabilities. Additionally, maintain a comprehensive and up-to-date backup system to protect your data.
Speak to a Team of Cyber Experts
At SWK, we understand that adhering to the 1-10-60 rule might seem daunting and unachievable. However, it’s more about following the process and having the right mindset when dealing with cyber threats. Smaller, in-house IT teams may find this challenging, so outsourcing your IT team could make all the difference. Contact SWK today to gain access to a team of cybersecurity experts who work around the clock to protect your data. Together, we can help you get closer to adhering to the 1-10-60 rule.