What are the key steps in IAM incident response and recovery?
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Identity and access management (IAM) is a crucial aspect of information security, as it ensures that only authorized users can access the right resources at the right time. However, IAM incidents can still occur, such as unauthorized access, data breaches, identity theft, or account compromise. How can you respond and recover from such incidents effectively and efficiently? Here are the key steps to follow.
The first step is to assess the situation and determine the scope, impact, and severity of the incident. You need to identify the affected users, accounts, roles, permissions, resources, and data. You also need to gather evidence, such as logs, alerts, reports, or screenshots, that can help you analyze the incident and trace its source. Depending on the nature and urgency of the incident, you may need to escalate it to the appropriate stakeholders, such as senior management, legal, or regulatory authorities.
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Balaji Kapsikar
Heading Technology and Cyber Risk | DPO | VCISO | Speaker | Mentor | Cyber AI | CISSP | CISM | CRISC | CAIE | CDPSE | ISO27001 LA | CEH | CPISI
Firstly You need to validate the alert or incident by assessing the situation to determine the exact impact. Addressing an incident requires the meticulous collection of a substantial amount of information, including but not limited to its scope, impact, severity, and potential consequences. Also, it is very important to identify the users, accounts, roles, permissions, resources, and data that may have been impacted. By obtaining these details, a comprehensive understanding of the incident can be obtained, which in turn can aid in developing and implementing an effective resolution strategy.
The second step is to contain the incident and prevent it from spreading or causing further damage. You need to isolate the compromised or suspicious accounts, revoke or suspend their access, and change their credentials. You also need to secure the affected resources, such as servers, databases, or applications, and apply patches or updates if needed. You may also need to activate backup or recovery plans, such as restoring data from backups or switching to alternative systems.
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Balaji Kapsikar
Heading Technology and Cyber Risk | DPO | VCISO | Speaker | Mentor | Cyber AI | CISSP | CISM | CRISC | CAIE | CDPSE | ISO27001 LA | CEH | CPISI
Once a security incident has been detected and assessed, the next priority is to contain it and prevent it from spreading or causing further damage. This involves identifying and isolating the compromised or suspicious accounts and resources, revoking access, and patching or updating as needed. Backup and recovery plans may also need to be activated.
The third step is to eradicate the root cause and eliminate any traces or remnants of the incident. You need to identify and remove any malware, backdoors, or other malicious code that may have been installed or injected into your systems. You also need to check and fix any vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, or weaknesses that may have allowed or facilitated the incident. You may also need to perform a forensic analysis to determine how the incident occurred, who was responsible, and what was the motive.
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Balaji Kapsikar
Heading Technology and Cyber Risk | DPO | VCISO | Speaker | Mentor | Cyber AI | CISSP | CISM | CRISC | CAIE | CDPSE | ISO27001 LA | CEH | CPISI
This involves identifying and removing any malware or malicious code, fixing any vulnerabilities or weaknesses that may have allowed the incident to occur, and conducting a forensic analysis to determine how the incident occurred and who was responsible. This is a critical step in preventing future incidents and ensuring that the organization is fully recovered. It is important to note that eradicating the root cause and eliminating any traces or remnants of an incident can be a complex and time-consuming process. However, it is an essential step in ensuring that the organization is fully recovered and protected from future attacks.
The fourth step is to restore normal operations and resume business as usual. You need to verify that the affected accounts, resources, and data are secure and functional. You also need to communicate with the affected users and inform them of the incident resolution and any actions they need to take, such as resetting their passwords or enabling multi-factor authentication. You may also need to update or modify your IAM policies, procedures, or tools to reflect the changes or improvements made.
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Balaji Kapsikar
Heading Technology and Cyber Risk | DPO | VCISO | Speaker | Mentor | Cyber AI | CISSP | CISM | CRISC | CAIE | CDPSE | ISO27001 LA | CEH | CPISI
After eradicating the threat, begin the process of restoring services to full functionality. This may involve rolling back systems to a known good state, issuing new credentials, and carefully reinstating access controls. Ensure that all actions are documented and communicated clearly to stakeholders.
The fifth step is to review and improve your IAM incident response and recovery process. You need to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of your response and recovery actions and identify any gaps, issues, or lessons learned. You also need to document and report the incident details, findings, and outcomes and share them with the relevant stakeholders. You may also need to implement or recommend any changes or enhancements to your IAM strategy, governance, or architecture to prevent or mitigate future incidents.
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Balaji Kapsikar
Heading Technology and Cyber Risk | DPO | VCISO | Speaker | Mentor | Cyber AI | CISSP | CISM | CRISC | CAIE | CDPSE | ISO27001 LA | CEH | CPISI
Post-incident, conduct a detailed review to evaluate the response effectiveness and identify lessons learned. This should lead to improvements in IAM policies, procedures, and technical controls. Update your incident response plan accordingly to better handle future incidents.
The sixth and final step is to educate and train your users and staff on IAM best practices and incident prevention and response. You need to raise awareness and understanding of the importance and benefits of IAM and the risks and challenges of IAM incidents. You also need to provide guidance and support on how to use and manage IAM effectively and securely and how to report and respond to any suspicious or anomalous activities or behaviors. You may also need to conduct regular drills or simulations to test and improve your IAM incident response and recovery capabilities.
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Randall Hettinger
Showing You What Evil Looks Like In Cloud | Read Permiso Security's p0 Labs' Report on Scattered Spider aka LUCR-3 | Get Your Complimentary Private Threat Brief to Spot Their Cloud Activity
While education and training remain vital in cybersecurity, the evolving threat landscape, exemplified by advanced actors like Scattered Spider/Octo Tempest, highlights the rising risk of identity-based attacks. To combat this, a proactive approach beyond traditional IAM measures is essential. Organizations should adopt a multifaceted approach, breaking down barriers between IAM, IT, and Security, integrating people, processes, and technologies. This involves correlating IdP identities (root and assumed) with resource usage across IaaS, SaaS, PaaS, and CI/CD environments. This comprehensive visibility empowers better detection and response, critical in countering the increasing threat of identity-based attacks
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