Creating IT vulnerabilities? Avoid risks while restoring cybersecurity for systems

TLDR:

Are you creating cybersecurity vulnerabilities while restoring IT systems? This article highlights how the recent CrowdStrike outage led to opportunistic hackers launching attacks to exploit vulnerabilities in companies’ IT systems. It offers four focus areas to limit exposure and downtime before the next disruption, including capturing lessons learned, monitoring and restoring cybersecurity controls, understanding third-party risks and controls, and maturing organizational resilience.

Article Summary:

In the aftermath of the CrowdStrike outage, many companies were left scrambling to restore their IT systems and operations, leading to increased cybersecurity risks. Opportunistic hackers took advantage of the situation, causing further complications for organizations. The article emphasizes the importance of effective preparation to aid in recovery and reduce vulnerability to cybersecurity threats in the future. Here are the key elements from the article:

• The recent CrowdStrike outage highlighted the need for effective preparation to protect against cybersecurity threats.
• Opportunistic hackers targeted companies during the outage, leading to increased cybersecurity risks.

The article suggests four focus areas to limit exposure and downtime during and after a disruption:

1. Capturing and responding to lessons learned:
   • Evaluate lessons learned to improve resiliency against future events.
   • Regularly communicate recovery progress and limitations to maintain a secure environment.
2. Monitoring and restoring cybersecurity controls:
   • Reinstitute cyber controls after restoration efforts to continue protecting the organization.
   • Restore proper access levels for users post disruption.
3. Understanding third-party risks and controls:
   • Evaluate access and validation processes of third-party vendors.
   • Define roles and responsibilities for critical vendors supporting operations.
4. Maturing organizational resilience:
   • Determine bare minimum functionality needed to resume operations post-disruption.
   • Refine resilience strategies for disaster recovery, business continuity, and incident response.

Additionally, companies are advised to periodically evaluate XDR cybersecurity software investments to mitigate risks effectively. Ensuring proper network protections and utilizing security tools can help reduce cybersecurity vulnerabilities and prepare for future disruptions.