What is a cyber incident?

A cyber incident is any action or situation that compromises the confidentiality, integrity or availability of IT systems, networks or data. This includes external threats such as hacking, phishing or ransomware, but also internal incidents by employees, such as negligent handling of data or targeted sabotage. A cyber incident can include both intentional attacks and unintentional security breaches that lead to data loss, operational disruptions or financial losses.

How do I recognize that I have been the victim of a cyber incident?

A cyber incident can be recognized by various signs. These include

Unusual network activity: conspicuous data transfers or increased system resource utilization.
Changed system configurations: Unexplained changes to settings or software.
Suspicious user activity: Access to systems or data outside normal times or locations.
Slowed systems: Performance drops for no apparent reason, often triggered by malware or DDoS attacks.
Unknown programs or processes: Occurrence of software that has not been authorized by the company.
Locked or encrypted data: Typical for ransomware attacks.
Alarm messages from security solutions: Indications of malware or suspicious activity from anti-virus programs or intrusion detection systems (IDS).

What types of cyber incidents are there?

Cyber incidents can be divided into different categories:

Malware attacks: Malware that infects and compromises data or systems (e.g. viruses, Trojans, ransomware).
Phishing: Deceptive attempts to steal access data or other confidential information via e-mails or websites.
Ransomware: A type of malware that encrypts data and demands a ransom to enable decryption.
Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS): Attacks that overload and paralyze systems through mass requests.
Insider threats: Attacks or negligent actions by employees or service providers who have access to internal systems.
Zero-day exploits: Attacks that exploit security gaps in software before a patch or update is available.
Advanced Persistent Threats (APT): Long-term, targeted attacks in which attackers remain undetected in order to steal sensitive data over a longer period of time.

What should I do if I suspect a cyber incident?

In the event of a suspected cyber incident, the following steps are crucial:

Immediate isolation of affected systems: disconnection from the network to prevent the attack from spreading further.
Activation of the incident response plan: A well-developed emergency plan should define responsibilities and next steps.
Forensic backup of the affected systems: Preservation of evidence by IT forensic experts to analyze the incident and determine the cause.
Inform the security team: Internal security teams or external specialists should be informed immediately.
Communication with stakeholders: Internal and external communication should be informed about the incident, especially if personal data is involved.
Notification to authorities: Depending on the nature of the incident and the legal requirements, it may be necessary to notify the competent data protection authorities.

How can I protect myself from a cyber incident?

Comprehensive protection against cyber incidents requires a combination of technical, organizational and personnel measures:

Regular security updates: All software and systems must always be kept up to date in order to close known vulnerabilities.
Strong authentication methods: The use of multi-factor authentication (MFA) reduces the risk of unauthorized access.
Employee training: Awareness training to detect phishing and other threats is crucial, as human error is often the biggest vulnerability.
Network segmentation: Critical systems should be isolated to minimize the risk of complete compromise.
Implement security solutions: Firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDPS) and endpoint protection solutions should be used.
Regular security checks: Penetration tests and audits help to identify vulnerabilities at an early stage.
Backups and emergency plans: Regular, encrypted and offline backups as well as tested emergency plans are essential for recovery after an incident.

What steps should companies take after a cyber incident?

After a cyber incident, a structured approach is important to minimize the damage:

Containment: The affected systems should be isolated to prevent the attack from spreading.
Forensic analysis: A thorough investigation of the affected systems and data is necessary to understand the cause and full extent of the incident.
Remediation: Vulnerabilities must be remedied, compromised data and systems must be cleaned or reinstalled.
Restoration: Backups can be used to restore affected systems. It should be ensured that no malicious programs are left behind.
Communication: Internal and external stakeholders must be informed about the incident and the measures taken. Timely communication is particularly important in the event of data breaches.
Follow-up: After the incident, the security measures must be analyzed and, if necessary, strengthened in order to prevent similar incidents in the future. A review of the incident response plan is also part of this.

What legal obligations do I have after a cyber incident?

After a cyber incident, companies must ensure that they comply with legal requirements, especially with regard to data protection:

GDPR: In the EU, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) obliges companies to report data breaches to the competent data protection authority within 72 hours if personal data is affected.
Notification of data subjects: If the incident poses a high risk to the rights and freedoms of the data subjects, they must be informed directly.
Industry or country-specific regulations: In some industries, there are additional legal requirements, such as in the financial or healthcare sector.
Contractual obligations: Depending on contractual agreements, companies may be obliged to inform business partners about the incident.
Fines: Failure to comply with reporting obligations can lead to severe penalties, which under the GDPR can amount to up to 20 million euros or 4% of global annual turnover.

How can I recover my data after a cyber incident?

Data recovery is a critical step after a cyber incident:

Regular backups: Regular and separate backups enable data to be restored quickly. It is advisable to store backups offline to protect them from ransomware attacks.
IT forensics: Before recovery, a forensic analysis must be carried out to ensure that no malware remains in the system.
Test the restore process: Incidents often show that backup and restore processes have been insufficiently tested. This should therefore be practiced regularly.
Check data integrity: After recovery, it must be ensured that the integrity of the data is maintained and that no manipulation has taken place.

What are the financial consequences of a cyber incident?

A cyber incident can have a significant financial impact:

Direct costs: These include costs for IT forensics, the restoration of data and systems, as well as external consultants or legal fees.
Fines and penalties: Significant fines can be imposed for breaches of data protection regulations.
Business interruption: The shutdown of systems or loss of production can lead to a considerable loss of revenue.
Loss of reputation: Customer trust can be significantly affected by a cyber incident, which can result in a long-term loss of sales and market share.
Insurance costs: Cyber insurance can cover some of the costs, but insurance premiums can also increase after an incident.

Is there insurance against cyber incidents?

Yes, cyber insurance policies offer protection against the financial consequences of a cyber incident. These policies typically cover:

Data recovery costs: Support for the recovery of data and systems.
Liability protection: Protection against third-party claims, e.g. from customers whose data has been compromised.
Compensation for business interruption: Compensation for lost profits due to business interruptions.
Coverage of fines: Some insurance policies also cover fines imposed as a result of data protection breaches.

How long does it take to recover from a cyber incident?

The duration of recovery from a cyber incident depends on several factors:

Scale of the incident: Minor incidents can be resolved within a few days, while serious attacks such as ransomware or APTs can take weeks or months.
Availability of backups: Companies that have regular and tested backups can be up and running again more quickly.
Complexity of the IT environment: More complex infrastructures require longer recovery times.
Resources: Availability of qualified personnel and external support influence the duration of the recovery.

Who is responsible for a cyber incident?

Various actors can be responsible for a cyber incident:

- External attackers: The most common culprits are external hacker groups, often motivated by financial gain or espionage.
- Insider threats: Employees or service providers can unintentionally or intentionally trigger an incident.
- Management responsibility: Regardless of the origin of the attack, responsibility for the security of IT systems lies with the company. An inadequate IT security strategy can lead to management liability.

Cyber incident