Here's how you can analyze a cybersecurity failure through post-mortem steps.

One thing I've found helpful is creating a centralized incident log that team members can update in real-time during an incident. This log should include all relevant details such as the timeline of events, actions taken, and decisions made. Having a single source of truth ensures that all team members have access to the latest information and can coordinate their efforts more effectively. Additionally, this comprehensive log becomes an essential resource during the post-mortem analysis, helping to identify what worked well and what areas need improvement.

Someone once told me that a failure is not a failure if it leads to learning, growth, and eventual success. It’s a reminder that every challenge is an opportunity for improvement. The same can be said with a cybersecurity failure, the goal is to not only identify what went wrong but also to recognize what was done correctly and how the team can enhance their response for future incidents. Document all the details of the incident, including what happened, when it happened, and the impact it had. Review the effectiveness of the response, including the actions taken and the procedures followed. Make sure that preventive measures are put into place and the lessons learned are integrated into the organization’s practices.

Ensure a swift initial response by quickly identifying and containing the breach to prevent further damage. Notify relevant stakeholders, including IT, management, and legal teams, to ensure everyone is informed and involved. Document every action taken from the moment the breach is discovered to maintain a clear timeline and facilitate later analysis.

The initial response sets the tone for the post mortem process. When a cybersecurity incident occurs, activate the incident response plan, mobilizing the incident response team, including IT, security, legal, and communications members. The primary focus is to contain the breach, prevent further damage, and secure evidence for later analysis. Actions include isolating affected systems, deploying patches, or activating backups. Transparent communication informs stakeholders of the breach and steps taken to address it. Quick, decisive actions are needed to minimize impact while preserving critical data and evidence for investigation.

One thing I've found helpful is automating the log collection and preservation process using scripts and tools. After a breach, we used automated scripts to gather logs from different systems and secure them in a tamper-evident storage. This approach not only ensured that no critical data was missed but also reduced the risk of human error during the stressful post-incident period. Additionally, maintaining a predefined checklist for data gathering ensured that all relevant sources were covered, providing a comprehensive dataset for the subsequent analysis and legal compliance requirements.

After mitigating the threat, gather all relevant logs from servers, network devices, and security systems (firewalls, IDS). Create a timeline using timestamps to piece together the attack. Preserve data integrity by using write-blockers and maintaining a chain of custody. Analyze the data for patterns and IoCs. Document all findings, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.

After containing the threat, gather all relevant information about the incident. Key data points include logs from affected systems, network traffic records, application logs, and alerts from security tools like IDS and antivirus software. Document actions taken during the initial response. This helps build a comprehensive timeline of the incident, showing how the breach occurred, what systems were affected, and how the attack progressed. Interviews with affected users and system administrators provide additional insights. This ensures all necessary information is available for thorough analysis.

While each of these steps are critical, this one is perhaps one of the most important steps in looking at security issues and how to create a better environment for the future.

Analyse the collected data to identify the root cause of the breach. This might reveal vulnerabilities like unpatched software, weak passwords, or misconfigured security settings. Understand the attackers’ tactics, techniques, and procedures. This highlights how attackers bypassed security measures and what data or systems were compromised. By understanding the root cause, organizations can determine specific weaknesses in their security posture and take targeted actions to address them.

Develop a remediation plan after analyzing the failure. Address immediate vulnerabilities and enhance your cybersecurity framework. Steps may include applying software patches, changing passwords, boosting network monitoring, and updating your incident response plan. The aim is to close security gaps and reduce the likelihood of future breaches.

Develop a detailed remediation plan to address the vulnerabilities identified. Prioritize actions based on the severity and potential impact of the vulnerabilities to ensure the most critical issues are resolved first. Implement changes and continuously monitor the systems to ensure the effectiveness of the fixes and to detect any further issues.

Develop a remediation plan outlining steps to address identified vulnerabilities. Actions might include applying patches, improving network segmentation, enhancing monitoring, and updating security policies. Prioritize actions based on the severity of vulnerabilities and potential impact. The plan should include timelines for implementation and assign responsibilities to team members. Effective remediation addresses immediate weaknesses and strengthens overall security posture to prevent similar incidents.

Implement preventive measures to avoid future cybersecurity failures. This involves adopting security best practices and making systemic changes. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration tests, enhance employee training to raise awareness about phishing and other attack vectors, and improve incident detection and response capabilities. Consider advanced security technologies like AI-driven threat detection and response tools. Continuous monitoring and regular updates to security protocols are essential. Robust preventive measures significantly reduce the risk of future failures.

A document should be shared with all parties involved for a Lessons Learned meeting or Post-mortem. This should cover what worked well and what could be better for the future. Any action items will be assigned by the end of the sync and everyone should leave knowing priorities. It should follow a blameless approach, where everyone leaves having learned what to do better next time.

Document insights and lessons learned from the incident to improve future response efforts. Conduct a debriefing session with the team to discuss what worked well and what didn’t, fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Share findings and best practices with the broader organization to ensure everyone benefits from the lessons learned.

Reflect on the incident to identify key takeaways. Document what worked well and areas for improvement. Share lessons learned across the organization to ensure all stakeholders are aware of the incident and steps taken to prevent future occurrences. Debriefing sessions with team members involved in the response gather valuable insights. By learning from the incident, organizations can improve processes, policies, and technologies to better handle future cybersecurity challenges. This continuous improvement mindset is vital for maintaining a strong security posture.

I love the “5 whys” framework for holding a blameless retrospective to reflect and learn. If a human was the “cause”, that means that insufficient guardrails are in place. Only by digging in and understanding the root cause(s) of an incident can we ever hope to put the proper preventative measures in place.

Regularly schedule tests to ensure ongoing validation and improvement of your plans. The frequency of testing should align with the complexity of your systems and the evolving threat landscape. Second, involve a diverse group of participants in your tests, including representatives from different departments and external partners, to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of your plans. Third, use the insights gained from testing to enhance your training and awareness programs, ensuring that all employees understand their roles and responsibilities in incident response and disaster recovery.

Begin by gathering information about the incident and initial actions, thorough comprehensive data collection and creation of a detailed incident timeline. Reviewing existing security measures reveals vulnerabilities that led to the breach. This investigation then informs a broader design review, highlighting gaps in the current security architecture. The process helps in refining the security architecture by incorporating secure-by-design principles such as least privilege access, defense in depth, and zero trust architecture. Threat modeling and rigorous testing of the updated architecture ensure that identified weaknesses are effectively addressed, strengthening the security posture and enhancing resilience against future threats.

Borrow from first responders and the Incident Command System. Make sure you have a clear incident response plan (IRP) with clearly defined roles and responsibilities. Even if someone has to perform several functions, they will understand exactly what’s expected of them and how to hand off to anyone following behind them. Make sure you regularly test your IRP.