A Step-by-Step Guide to a Robust Cyber Resilience Framework
- Eyal Katz
- Mar 4
- 5 min read
We all remember learning mathematical formulae at school, but there is other, more critical, information to reel off nowadays. Like reciting a poem or an essay, every cybersecurity professional can recall the three-step process to countering cyber attacks: prevention, detection, and recovery.
Cyber threats are at an all-time high, and they show no signs of slowing down. On average, each organization faced up to 270 attacks last year, a 31% increase in just twelve months. Most organizations usually only focus on the prevention stage of the mantra, and a robust cyber resilience framework helps you tick all three boxes.
By zooming out, you can ensure your software systems can operate even during cyber attacks and quickly recover from them, making it a perfect solution for high-pressure cyber threat scenarios, digital transformation requirements, and other ongoing security challenges.
What is a cyber resilience framework?
The cyber resilience framework is a method of building organizational competency to prepare for, respond to, and restore from cyber security incidents at minimal disturbance to business operations. Unlike traditional cybersecurity frameworks that rely entirely on prevention, cyber resilience frameworks ensure the system is operative even under an attack.
Think of it like the difference between a castle with high walls and a modern city with emergency services. Strong walls protect you, but a resilient city also has teams ready to jump into action when something goes wrong. In cybersecurity, resilience means having defenses but also being prepared to respond and recover from any breach quickly.
Essential Cyber Resilience Frameworks to Know
1. NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF)
The NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) is one of the guidelines provided by NIST. Its main goal is to help you manage and curb the effects of cyber attacks using a risk-based approach focusing on five core operational functions: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover.
2. ISO 27001
ISO 27001 can be viewed as an information security management system that considers people, processes, and IT systems. It is stricter than NIST CSF but provides a more comprehensive scope for security controls.
3. MITRE ATT&CK
Although not specifically a framework in itself, MITRE ATT&CK can assist in a cyber resilience strategy when searching for and neutralizing threats. However, it doesn't substitute resilience frameworks such as NIST or ISO 27001.
Why Your Organization Needs a Cyber Resilience Framework
Reduce Downtime: A resilience framework helps you sail a smooth ship by providing advance planning for quick recoveries from incidents.
Protect Important Data: Implementing resilience measures better protects your key data and information, helping prevent costly data breaches and loss of customer and vendor trust.
Meet Compliance Standards: With the emergence of several regulations like the EU Cyber Resilience Act, having a framework can assist your organization in maintaining compliance and preventing sanctions.
Build Customer Trust: Strengthening resilience measures means customers can be confident their data will be safe with you, which further cements their trust in your business.
Stay Prepared for New Threats: A cyber resilience framework includes regular risk assessments, regular reviews, and responses to incidents so that new threats can be anticipated.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Building Your Cyber Resilience Framework
A well-planned and systematically executed approach is needed to create a strong cyber resilience framework. Here is an in-depth explanation of each critical step in the process:
Step 1: Assess Your Current State
You can start by analyzing your organization's current security posture. This foundation-setting phase helps you establish a security baseline by identifying existing vulnerabilities and asset dependencies.
Actionable Tips:
Asset Cataloging: Inventory all hardware, software, and data assets, noting criticality and access points.
Security Controls Review: Examine existing defenses, such as firewalls, encryption standards, and access controls.
Incident Readiness Check: Review past incidents, identify common attack vectors, and map potential threats.
Framework Usage: Use NIST CSF or ISO 27001 as templates for consistent assessments.
Tool Suggestions: Vulnerability scanners like SpectralOps and penetration testing ensure deeper analysis and visibility into weak points.
Step 2: Define Critical Functions
This step involves identifying and prioritizing the functions essential to your business's continued operation, even during worst-case scenario disruptions. At this point, you can define acceptable downtime and data loss limits for each key function.
Actionable Tips:
Business Impact Analysis (BIA): Assess which business functions are vital to continuity and map dependencies across systems.
Set Recovery Objectives: Define Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs) and Recovery Point Objectives (RPOs) to establish acceptable downtimes.
Documentation: Document potential bypass and fallback procedures for business-critical systems.
Tool Suggestions: Use specialized BIA software for detailed dependency mapping.
Step 3: Implement Zero Trust Architecture
Zero trust implementation requires a fundamental shift in your application security strategy, fortifying internal defenses by verifying every access request across users, devices, and applications.
Actionable Tips:
IAM: Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) and least-privilege access for all accounts.
Network Segmentation: Micro-segment networks by classifying and isolating assets, enforcing access only by necessity.
Platform Examples: Utilize platforms like Okta or Palo Alto Zero Trust to support IAM and apply network segmentation for each data sensitivity level.
Audit Recommendations: Conduct regular access control reviews to ensure permissions remain appropriate as roles and teams evolve.
Step 4: Establish Detection Capabilities
Modern threat detection requires a multi-layered approach combining various technologies and processes. With this step, you can enhance early warning capabilities and mitigate threats before they impact critical assets.
Actionable Tips:
Monitoring Systems: Integrate SIEM, EDR, and network detection solutions for broad coverage.
Severity-Based Alerts: Implement a three-level or five-level classification of alerts concentrating on the most critical behaviors.
SOC Setup: Establish a 24/7 Security Operations Center (SOC) to monitor alerts and respond immediately.
Behavior Analytics: Integrate User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA) to detect anomalies from user behavior patterns and advanced threats.
Step 5: Create Incident Response Plans
Effective incident response plans will help minimize damage and disruption caused by incidents through rapid containment and clear recovery protocols.
Actionable Tips:
Team Structuring: Designate roles in the IR team, including escalation paths and backup contacts.
Protocol Definition: Establish detailed containment, eradication, and recovery steps for common incident scenarios.
Regular Drills: Conduct red team/blue team exercises and table-top scenarios to refine responses.
Automate Response: Use SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response) platforms to speed up response time.
Step 6: Build Recovery Capabilities
You should have solid recovery capabilities to get back on your feet quickly post-incident.
Actionable Tips:
Automated Backups: Implement 3-2-1 backup strategies (3 copies, 2 different media, 1 off-site) and regularly test for reliability.
Recovery Playbooks: Create specific restoration protocols for critical systems, prioritizing data integrity and uptime.
Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS): Consider DRaaS solutions like Microsoft Azure Site Recovery for faster recovery and additional redundancy for high-priority systems.
Routine Testing: Schedule annual full-scale disaster recovery tests to ensure all recovery processes are actionable.
Step 7: Deploy Automated Security
Automation is crucial for maintaining consistent security across complex environments. You can automate threat detection, patching, and incident response to minimize vulnerabilities.
Actionable Tips:
Security Automation: Deploy SOAR for automated incident triage, patch management, and configuration compliance checks.
Automated Compliance Scanning: Implement tools to regularly scan and ensure compliance with industry standards.
Security Platforms: Use platforms like Palo Alto Cortex or Microsoft Defender ATP to centralize and automate responses.
Proactive Threat Hunts: Schedule regular automated threat hunts to identify potential weaknesses before they are exploited.
Use a WAF: A WAF is a critical component of any cyber resilience framework. WAFs can help you meet regulatory compliance requirements, such as PCI DSS, HIPAA, and GDPR, and support cybersecurity initiatives like bot detection by protecting against common and even unknown threats. For example, open-appsec's ML-based engine continuously learns to precisely detect OWASP Top 10 and zero-day threats—without signature updates.
Quick Bite: Best Practices for Cyber Resilience Framework Implementation
Here are some last-but-not-least quick tips and tricks for leak-proof cyber resilience framework implementation.
Start Small: Begin with critical systems and expand gradually
Document Everything: Maintain detailed documentation of all processes.
Regular Reviews: Schedule periodic security framework assessments.
Stakeholder Involvement: Engaging stakeholders from all levels of the organization is critical.
Continuous Improvement: Treat the framework as a living document that evolves with your organization.
Resilience Tactics: Regularly update resilience tactics, since attacks are always evolving.
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