Explain The Top Three Reasons Why You Believe Organizations

Explain the top three reasons why you believe organizations may be unprepared to manage incidents effectively and in a timely fashion

Provide real-world examples to support your chosen reasons. Determine which of the seven recommendations to improve e-Discovery and incident management you would consider the most important for organizations to address. Justify your answer.

Paper For Above instruction

Organizations today operate in an increasingly complex and digital environment, making incident management a critical aspect of organizational resilience. Despite the importance, many organizations remain unprepared to handle incidents effectively and promptly. This paper explores the top three reasons contributing to this lack of preparedness, supported by real-world examples, and identifies the most critical recommendation among seven aimed at improving e-Discovery and incident management.

1. Lack of Adequate Training and Awareness

One primary reason organizations falter in effective incident management is the insufficient training and awareness among staff and management. Many organizations overlook the importance of comprehensive training programs that prepare employees to recognize, respond to, and report incidents promptly. Without proper training, employees may not identify signs of cybersecurity breaches, data leaks, or compliance violations in time to mitigate damage. An example can be seen in the 2017 Equifax data breach, where internal communication failures and lack of trained response teams contributed to delayed discovery and response (Riley, 2017). Equifax’s failure to proactively train staff on security protocols led to a catastrophic breach that compromised sensitive personal information of millions.

2. Inadequate Incident Response Plans

Another significant factor is the absence or poor implementation of structured incident response plans. Many organizations either lack a formal plan or have plans that are outdated or not regularly tested. Incident response plans are essential to ensure coordinated, quick, and effective responses to crises. The 2013 Target breach exemplifies this issue; although Target had an incident response plan, its inadequate testing and poor communication during the breach led to delayed containment and increased damage (Krebs, 2014). Without a tested, clear plan, organizations risk chaos, confusion, and prolonged downtime during incidents.

3. Underinvestment in Security Infrastructure

Underfunding security infrastructure, including insufficient cybersecurity tools and personnel, hampers organizations' ability to detect and respond to incidents swiftly. Cyber attackers often exploit existing vulnerabilities due to outdated systems or lack of real-time monitoring. The 2020 Twitter hack, which involved high-profile accounts, exposed how underinvestment in proper security protocols could lead to serious breaches (Smith, 2020). These organizations lacked advanced detection capabilities and incident response tools, resulting in delayed identification and containment.

These reasons collectively create a gap in preparedness, risking severe consequences during incidents. Addressing them requires targeted investments in training, response planning, and infrastructure.

Most Important Recommendation: Regular Training and Simulated Drills

Among the seven recommendations to improve e-Discovery and incident management—such as investing in technology, establishing clear policies, and conducting regular audits—I believe that regular training and simulated drills are the most vital. These practices ensure that staff are familiar with procedures, can recognize incidents early, and respond effectively under pressure. Evidence from the Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report (2022) underscores that well-trained personnel contribute significantly to faster incident detection and mitigation, reducing potential damages.

Justifying this focus, even the most advanced incident management systems are ineffective without competent personnel who know how to utilize them. Regular training fosters a proactive security culture and prepares organizations for real-world challenges. Simulation exercises also provide opportunities to identify gaps and refine response strategies, further bolstering organizational readiness.

References

  • Krebs, B. (2014). Target’s Data Breach Response: What Went Wrong? Krebs on Security. https://krebsonsecurity.com/2014/12/targets-data-breach-what-went-wrong/
  • Riley, M. (2017). Equifax Data Breach: What Went Wrong? The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/07/technology/equifax-breach-cyberattack.html
  • Smith, J. (2020). Twitter Hack: Underinvestment and Security Failures. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/07/16/twitter-hack/
  • Verizon. (2022). Data Breach Investigations Report 2022. https://www.verizon.com/business/resources/reports/dbir/
  • Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). (2023). Incident Response & Recovery. https://www.cisa.gov/incident-response-and-recovery
  • National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). (2018). Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity. https://www.nist.gov/cyberframework
  • IBM Security. (2021). Cost of a Data Breach Report. https://www.ibm.com/security/data-breach
  • European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA). (2022). Threat Landscape and Incident Response. https://www.enisa.europa.eu/publications
  • CyberEdge Group. (2023). Cybersecurity Workforce Study. https://cyberedge.com/workforce-study/
  • Ponemon Institute. (2022). Incident Response & Management Practices. https://www.ponemon.org/

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