Modern Strategies for Cyber Resiliency

However, the need for cyber resilience is one of those areas.

In today’s threat environment, an attacker is likely already in your network looking for vulnerabilities and sensitive information.

So the real question is: Can your organization detect, contain, and recover quickly enough to minimize damage and keep your business running?

That’s what cyber resilience is all about: The ability of an organization to withstand, adapt to, and recover from cyberattacks without losing critical functionality.

Here's what your organization needs to know about cyber resilience and how your team can build it throughout your environment:

Cyber resilience goes beyond just deploying security tools and controls at the edge; it blends security, adaptability, and recovery in depth using a structured, continuous cycle comprised of:

• Detection: Identify threats before they spread.
• Protection: Harden systems and processes to slow attackers down.
• Response: React swiftly to limit damage.
• Recovery: Restore operations and date while minimizing downtime.

In other words, cyber resilience is about weaving security into the DNA of your network infrastructure and business processes.

Financial institutions increasingly rely on cybersecurity consulting services to address critical security challenges, ranging from a lack of manpower to surge support in the wake of an incident or for a one-time initiative. 

Other common reasons include:

• Rising Cyber Threats: The financial sector is a prime target for cybercriminals due to the amount of sensitive data it handles. The consulting services companies bring in additional tools and staff to help mitigate the risk from ransomware, phishing, and data breaches.
• Alignment with Regulations: Finance companies must comply with strict industry-specific regulations such as PCI DSS, GDPR, and SOX, making compliance expertise that outside cybersecurity consulting services companies bring essential.
• Access to Specialized Expertise: Finance companies frequently turn to cybersecurity consulting services to provide additional expertise and manpower to prevent, mitigate, and respond to cyber threats or support new security initiatives. This can be cheaper than finding and hiring staff internally.
• Scalability & Cost-Effectiveness: Maintaining a large internal cybersecurity team can be costly and difficult to scale. Consulting services provide a flexible and cost-effective alternative that is easier to adjust to meet operational needs.

Reactive security is too late, putting your critical resources at risk.

A strong starting point for building cyber resilience is using AI-driven monitoring combined with real-time threat intelligence. When used with automated containment rules, organizations can move faster than attackers.

Key Supporting Tools:

• Tools like threat intelligence feeds can provide the tactics, signatures, and other indicators needed to stay ahead of new tactics.
• Automated containment allows for fast threat isolation.

In today's threat environment, it's not far-fetched to assume that attackers are already in your network and your security perimeter is gone.

That's why more organizations are turning to platforms that enforce the zero trust (ZT) principle of "never trust, always verify" by ensuring that user and system access is continuously verified with the help of robust IAM solutions. The zero trust approach aims to minimize the risk of lateral movement by attackers, restricting their ability to escalate privileges or access critical systems.

Key Supporting Tools:

• Use least-privilege access across your network to minimize insider threats.
• Leverage multi-factor authentication to add additional layers of security in case passwords are compromised.
• Use ZT-enforced segmentation to limit lateral movement within networks.

Continuously monitor user network traffic to detect and mitigate insider threats.

Once you recognize that cyber incidents are inevitable, the goal becomes minimizing disruption.

Continuity planning involves preparing IT, security, and operations teams to work together to keep core functions running even under attack. This planning includes performing regular stress tests of response protocols to ensure teams are well-practiced in mitigating cyberthreats under real-world conditions.

Additionally, strong cross-functional collaboration between departments helps streamline decision-making and accelerate recovery efforts when an attack occurs.

Key Supporting Tools:

• Have regularly tested and refined cyber incident response plans.
• Conduct tabletop exercises to simulate attacks so key parties know what to do and when disaster strikes.
• Have a tested backup plan and recovery processes outlining which systems and datasets must come online first.

Building cyber resilience requires a shift in mindset from mere prevention to rapid detection, response, and recovery. Fortunately, proven tools, policies, and best practices like those shared here help organizations accelerate and enhance their cyber resilience programs before the unthinkable happens.

 

Cipher's xMDR Platform delivers the integration and centralized control, monitoring, and response required to protect against tomorrow's cyber threats. 

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