Eradication in the Incident Response Plan

Let’s talk about Eradication. Eradication is a critical part of the third phase of an effective Incident Response Plan. It involves eliminating the root cause of the security incident, ensuring that the attack vector is fully removed to prevent further damage or recurrence.

 

Eradication is often more involved than simply removing malware from infected computers. If a system was compromised because of vulnerabilities—like unpatched software or unsecured file shares—those weaknesses must be addressed to prevent reinfection or further attacks. It’s important to not only clean the infected systems but also to fix the vulnerabilities that allowed the infection in the first place. We often hear about companies being hit by ransomware a second time shortly after paying a ransom. This is why.

 

Organizations should be prepared to use a variety of eradication techniques depending on the situation. Common tools include antivirus software, vulnerability management platforms, and network access control systems. In some cases, rebuilding systems from known-good backups may be necessary to ensure complete eradication of the malware, especially if the infection caused significant damage or lasted for an extended period.

 

It’s also essential to balance the urgency of eradication with operational needs. Disconnecting infected hosts from the primary network might speed up eradication but could disrupt business processes. Be sure to align your eradication efforts with the broader recovery plan, ensuring that users regain access to systems without compromising the security of your network. All of this needs to be in your organization’s written Incident Response Plan.

 

Finally, communicate clearly with your IT teams and users during the eradication process. Whether using automated or manual eradication methods, having prepared instructions and support will help streamline the process and minimize downtime.

 

These strategies should be embedded in your Incident Response Plan and form part of a comprehensive approach to cybersecurity as required by frameworks like CMMC, HIPAA, and ISO 27001.