5 Crucial Techniques of Effective Incident Commanders

5 Crucial Techniques of Effective Incident Commanders

In today's rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape, effective incident management is critical for organizations to safeguard their data and infrastructure. To address this need, Cloud Range recently hosted an insightful webinar featuring industry experts:

The webinar provided valuable insights into being an Incident Commander, covering essential skills and strategies for leading incident response teams. This blog provides an overview and some key takeaways from the discussion.

The Role of Incident Commanders

The role of an Incident Commander (IC) in cybersecurity is pivotal, serving as the central figure responsible for orchestrating and managing the response efforts during both IT and OT/ICS incidents. An IC oversees the entire incident response process, from initial detection to containment, eradication, and recovery. They act as the primary decision-maker, coordinating activities, assigning tasks, and ensuring that the response team operates cohesively toward mitigating the threat. 

In IT incidents, such as data breaches or malware outbreaks, the IC must assess the severity of the incident, mobilize resources, and implement countermeasures to contain and neutralize the threat swiftly. Similarly, in OT/ICS incidents, such as industrial control system disruptions or operational downtime, the IC plays a critical role in minimizing the impact on critical infrastructure, ensuring continuity of operations and safeguarding public safety. 

The effectiveness of an Incident Commander directly influences the outcome of an incident, as their leadership, communication, and decision-making skills are instrumental in guiding the response team through resolution. Whether facing cyber adversaries in the digital realm or addressing operational disruptions in industrial environments, a competent IC is indispensable in safeguarding organizational assets and maintaining business resilience.

Improving Incident Command: Lessons from Cybersecurity Experts

The panel discussed that it is important for Incident Commanders to understand the seriousness of the evidence during an incident. ICs need to provide facts and evidence and let other team members make decisions based on that information. However, in situations where the severity of evidence is not properly recognized or communicated, decision-making can be delayed or misguided, leading to ineffective response efforts.

It’s critical not to be caught flat-footed due to a lack of preparation. ICs should have access to necessary resources, such as analyst environments and flyaway kits, and be ready to mobilize them promptly during an incident. If these resources are not adequately prepared or maintained, response efforts may be delayed or hindered, allowing threats to escalate or persist longer than necessary.

It’s also essential to consider communication and regulatory requirements, such as reporting obligations to state agencies or compliance with GDPR. Failure to address these aspects proactively in incident response planning can result in regulatory non-compliance or ineffective communication with stakeholders, potentially exacerbating the impact of the incident.

5 Crucial Techniques of Effective Incident Commanders

These five techniques stand out as crucial, though not mutually exclusive:

1. Understanding the Skills of the Team

Understanding team members’ skills is essential for Incident Commanders because it allows them to allocate tasks effectively and align them with their expertise and capabilities. By recognizing the strengths and weaknesses of individual team members, ICs can optimize team performance, increase efficiency, and mitigate risks during incident response. Furthermore, this understanding enables ICs to proactively identify training needs and provide opportunities for skill development, ultimately strengthening the overall resilience of the team in handling diverse cybersecurity incidents.

2. Communication

Clear and timely communication is the cornerstone of successful incident management. Strong communication skills are needed to ensure smooth collaboration within the team and to effectively liaise with both internal stakeholders and external parties such as regulators or law enforcement. Knowing when and what to say – and why – helps facilitate task delegation, alignment on objectives, and coordinated responses during cybersecurity incidents. It involves conveying relevant information accurately and promptly, which builds trust, enhances decision-making, and promotes transparency throughout the incident response process.

3. Roles and Delegation of Tasks

ICs must delegate tasks effectively based on each team member's capabilities, ensuring clear roles and responsibilities to maximize efficiency during incident response. The best way to learn effective delegation is through training, experience, and feedback. It’s also important for ICs to understand the purpose behind the tasks they assign, which goes back to communication and the ability to meet team members at their skill levels. “You can't assign somebody this big nebulous thing unless you know that they can digest that, break it down, and accomplish it,” said Tom Marsland. ICs need to explain tasks clearly, set expectations, and empower team members to make decisions within their roles. Regular evaluation and adjustment of delegation strategies enhance effectiveness. 

4. Maintaining Situational Awareness

Incident Commanders must maintain situational awareness to have a clear understanding of the evolving situation, including the scope, severity, and potential impacts of the incident. This awareness enables informed decision-making, effective resource allocation, and timely response actions. It helps ICs anticipate challenges, adapt strategies, and communicate accurately with stakeholders, ensuring a coordinated and efficient response to cybersecurity incidents.

5. Time Management and Decision Making

Time management is a critical aspect of incident management, as every minute counts in mitigating the impact of a security incident. Bryan Singer noted, “It boils down to having basic and good project management skills,” which includes understanding how long tasks will take and tracking them to completion. By prioritizing tasks, setting deadlines, and making informed decisions, ICs can optimize their response efforts and minimize downtime.

The Value of Live-Fire Simulations

“Firefighters don't learn to fight fires during a fire,” said John Armga, emphasizing the importance of proactive training and simulation to develop the skills of incident response teams. Live-fire simulations are valuable because they provide hands-on experience in a controlled environment – someone can step into the Incident Commander role during the dynamic, but safe, exercises and practice leading the team through incident response.

Cloud Range’s team-based live-fire cyber attack simulations allow ICs to apply their knowledge and skills in realistic scenarios, preparing them to handle actual incidents effectively. By facing simulated challenges and making decisions under pressure, they can improve their decision-making abilities, communication skills, and teamwork. Additionally, simulations help identify areas for improvement, refine response procedures, and enhance overall readiness to mitigate the impact of cybersecurity incidents.

Get more insights by watching the full webinar

Are you ready to enhance your incident management skills and lead your team with confidence during cybersecurity incidents? Take advantage of our new Incident Commander Training, available at no cost for a limited time. Equip yourself with the best training to COMMAND an incident. Sign up today!