Rationale
This type of audit is performed after a Cybersecurity breach or incident occurs to assess the extent of the breach, evaluate the response and mitigation measures taken, and identify areas for improvement to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Methodology
The methodology describing how the Cybersecurity post-incident audit for a cyber-incident involving a data breach would be conducted is discussed as below:
a) Incident Assessment
The audit team would thoroughly analyze the incident's details, including the nature of the attack, the vulnerabilities exploited, the affected systems and data, and the severity of the breach. This assessment would provide a clear understanding of the scope of the incident.
b) Root Cause Analysis
The auditors would then conduct a root cause analysis to determine the factors that led to the breach. This may include examining the authentication mechanisms, access controls effectiveness, employee awareness and training, and any other potential weaknesses in the security infrastructure.
c) Review of Incident Response
The audit team would proceed to evaluate the effectiveness of organization’s incident response procedures. This involves analyzing the timeline of actions taken, communication protocols, coordination with external experts, and the containment and mitigation strategies employed including lessons learned from past/similar incidents.
d) Identification of IOCs and TTPs
The auditors would work with affected organization’s security team to identify any specific Indicators of Compromise (IOCs) and Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) used by the attackers. This information can help improve threat detection and response capabilities.
e) Gap Analysis
This involves comparing affected organization’s security measures at the time of the breach with industry best practices and relevant security standards and regulations. This gap analysis would reveal gaps (areas where security improvements are necessary).
f) Authentication and Access Controls
During the Audit, the auditors would evaluate affected organization’s authentication processes and access controls to determine if they were adequate and effective in preventing unauthorized access.
g) Employee Training and Awareness
Assess the level of Cybersecurity awareness amongst employees and evaluate the effectiveness of their training programs. This would help identify areas where additional training is needed to prevent insider threats and improve overall security.
h) Incident Communication and Customer Support
Examine the affected organization’s communication with affected customers and the support provided to help them protect their data. Evaluate the efficiency of the incident communication plan.
i) Vendor and Third-Party Assessment
If any third-party vendors were involved, assess their security practices and any potential impact on the breach.
j) Lessons Learned and Recommendations
Based on the findings of the audit, Auditors would then provide actionable recommendations to strengthen organization’s Cybersecurity posture and prevent future incidents. The audit should emphasize the lessons learned and improvements needed in security protocols, employee training, incident response, and overall risk management.
Follow-up and Verification
After implementing the recommendations, the Auditors should then conduct a follow-up audit to ensure that the proposed changes have been effectively implemented.
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Find out how CPAF can help your organisation to achieve mitigate cybersecurity risks and avert cyber threats. Benefit from our information security audits, cybersecurity penetration tests, digital forensics services and more.
Find out how CPAF can help your organisation to achieve mitigate cybersecurity risks and avert cyber threats. Benefit from our information security audit services, digital forensics, penetration test services and m.
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