How do you ensure the resilience and recovery of your network after a CNO incident?

1 Assess the impact

The first step after a CNO incident is to assess the impact and scope of the damage. You need to identify what systems, services, data, and assets have been affected, compromised, or lost. You also need to determine the severity and urgency of the incident, and the potential consequences for your business, customers, and stakeholders. A thorough and timely assessment will help you prioritize your actions and allocate your resources.

2 Contain the incident

The next step is to contain the incident and prevent it from spreading or escalating. You need to isolate the affected systems and networks, cut off the attackers' access, and remove any malicious code or software. You also need to preserve any evidence and logs that can help you analyze the incident and identify the source, method, and motive of the attack. Containing the incident will help you mitigate the risk and protect your network from further harm.

3 Restore the network

The third step is to restore the network and resume normal operations. You need to repair or replace any damaged or corrupted hardware, software, or data. You also need to update or patch any vulnerabilities or weaknesses that have been exploited or exposed by the attack. You may also need to implement new security measures or policies to prevent or deter future attacks. Restoring the network will help you recover your functionality and performance.

4 Communicate the incident

The fourth step is to communicate the incident and its impact to your relevant audiences. You need to inform your management, staff, customers, partners, and regulators about what happened, what you did, and what you plan to do. You also need to be transparent, honest, and accountable for your actions and decisions. You may also need to comply with any legal or contractual obligations or standards regarding data breaches or incidents. Communicating the incident will help you maintain your reputation and trust.

5 Learn from the incident

The fifth step is to learn from the incident and improve your network resilience. You need to conduct a post-incident review and analysis to evaluate your response and performance. You also need to identify any gaps, flaws, or lessons learned from the incident and its aftermath. You may also need to update or revise your network security and resilience framework, strategy, or plan to address any issues or recommendations. Learning from the incident will help you enhance your capabilities and readiness.

6 Test the network

The final step is to test the network and verify its resilience and recovery. You need to perform various tests and audits to check the functionality, security, and reliability of your network. You also need to simulate different scenarios and challenges to measure your network's performance and resilience under stress or attack. You may also need to involve external experts or stakeholders to validate or certify your network's compliance or quality. Testing the network will help you ensure your network's effectiveness and confidence.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?