As we enter a new era of cybersecurity threats, which has prompted the evolution of new vulnerabilities, organisations are challenged on how to best respond to these evolving attacks. The threat landscape is more complex than ever causing organisations to grapple with new tactics to safeguard their critical data.
In 2024, ransomware surged rapidly in acceleration and sophistication, accounting for 23% of all intrusions in 2023 compared with 18% in 2022 according to Mandiant’s annual M-Trends report. Since the introduction of AI, the ability to automate its deployment can also be attributed to its exponential growth. Most notably, increasing its attack surface to target critical infrastructure, sensitive data, and operational capabilities.
To navigate these challenges, organisations must adopt a comprehensive approach to cyber resilience—one that allows them not only to withstand attacks but also to recover swiftly and effectively. The longer a cyber threat remains undetected, the more time it can inflict damage which is known as the dwell time. Therefore, minimising the dwell time can significantly reduce costs and damage to business operations, maintaining business continuity and customer services.
The core pillars of cyber resilience provide a robust framework for organisations looking to enhance their cybersecurity posture.
Offensive Security and Threat Intelligence
The first pillar of a strong cybersecurity strategy is Offensive Security which focuses on a proactive approach to tackling vulnerabilities.
Organisations must implement advanced monitoring systems that can provide real-time insights into network traffic, user behaviour, and system vulnerabilities. By establishing a comprehensive overview through visibility assessments, organisations can identify anomalies and potential threats before they escalate into full-blown attacks. This proactive approach allows security teams to respond swiftly, minimising the impact of any security incident.
Cyber Hygiene: Establishing Secure Habits and Practices
Cyber hygiene refers to the practices and habits that users and organisations adopt to maintain the security of their digital environments. Passwords are typically the first line of defence against unauthorised access to systems, data and accounts. Attackers often obtain credentials due to password reuse or users inadvertently downloading infected software on corporate devices. In 2023, 10% of intrusions began with evidence of stolen credentials, compared to 14% observed in 2022 according to Mandiant’s annual M-Trends report.
To combat these vulnerabilities, strong password management remains a critical component of cyber hygiene which is best achieved by implementing policies for strong, unique passwords combined with multi-factor authentication (MFA). It is equally beneficial to enforce strict access controls to ensure that only authorised personnel can access sensitive data and systems, and thereby reduce the risk of insider threats. Finally, regularly updating software and systems is crucial for protecting against known vulnerabilities. Outdated software can serve as an easy target to enter for attackers.
These habits will help to reduce the likelihood of cyberattacks like brute force attacks, stolen credentials, and phishing attempts. Key elements of cyber hygiene also include fostering cybersecurity awareness through user education and training employees to recognise phishing attempts, social engineering tactics, and other threats to reduce the risk of successful attacks. Examples of training methods include phishing simulations, cyber awareness campaigns, and safe internet browsing demonstrations.
Data Protection: Safeguarding the Most Valuable Asset
Data is often regarded as the most valuable asset for any organisation. Effective data protection measures help organisations maintain the integrity and confidentiality of their information, even in the face of cyber threats.
This includes implementing encryption for sensitive data, employing access controls to restrict unauthorised access, and deploying data loss prevention (DLP) solutions. Regular backups—both on-site and in the cloud—are critical for ensuring that data can be restored quickly in case of a breach or ransomware attack.
Incident Response: Minimising Damage in the Event of an Attack
Even with the best preventive measures in place, security incidents are inevitable. Preparation is key meaning that organisations must have a well-defined incident response plan that includes a dedicated crisis management team and clear protocols for addressing different types of incidents.
Identifying and containing an incident quickly can prevent the spread of further damage from incidents involving malware, data breaches or unauthorised access, significantly lowering the dwell time and restoring business operations without delay. Conducting a post-incident review to analyse what went wrong and how to improve future responses will help strengthen overall resilience.
Incident Recovery
Specific incident recovery plans and procedures must be tailored to the recovery of data during a cyber breach due to the nature of the attack. Typically, threat actors will corrupt an organisation’s data and systems. Therefore, it is imperative that backups are not only immutable but are also recovered and analysed first in an isolated environment, known as a clean room, to avoid the recovery of infected data and systems.
This increases the guarantee of recovery after experiencing a breach, as the data is no longer susceptible to the same risks as other data in the live production environment. Clean rooms play a critical role in conducting forensic analysis, by validating the data’s integrity and usability to ensure the systems are free from any malware before recovery.
Compliance and Governance
Adhering to regulatory requirements and governance frameworks is vital for maintaining cyber resilience. This includes regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, NIS2 and DORA. Integrating compliance into the organisation’s security strategy not only helps avoid legal penalties but also enhances overall security. By implementing necessary controls and procedures, organisations can demonstrate their commitment to protecting sensitive data and maintaining operational integrity.
Continuous Improvement
The cyber landscape is constantly evolving, which necessitates a mindset of continuous improvement to remain agile and capable of responding to the dynamic nature of cyber threats.
Learning from past incidents, staying on top of industry best practices, and adapting to new threats are essential for maintaining an effective cybersecurity posture. Organisations must regularly review and update their cyber resilience strategies and policies.
Investing in cyber resilience is not just a necessity—it’s a strategic imperative. Organisations that embrace these pillars safeguard their assets, secure long-term success and earn lasting trust from customers and stakeholders in today’s complex threat landscape.
