When a data breach strikes, it's imperative to work seamlessly with external vendors for a timely resolution. Here's what you can do:
- Establish clear lines of communication to ensure that both parties are informed of the situation and next steps.
- Define and assign specific roles and responsibilities to streamline the response process.
- Implement a joint incident response plan that has been previously agreed upon.
What strategies have you found effective in dealing with data breaches and external vendors?
The key to working with a vendor during a cybersecurity incident is collaborating with them beforehand. This should include them being called out in your Incident Response Plan (IRP) at a minimum. There should be agreements in place to cover what they are going to do as part of the response ahead of time, and the vendor should agree to their role. Depending on the role of the vendor, you may also want to review their IRP. It is also best to practice the process with a TableTop Exercise (TTX). I have run a lot of TTXs, and often, when the critical vendors are invited, it leads to a ton of opportunities for improvement.
Together with the vendor, conduct a comprehensive review to determine what succeeded and what failed. To improve preparedness for upcoming incidents, use this input to revise the vendor contracts and incident response plan. Collaborate closely with legal teams to make sure that every step performed in the breach response complies with applicable laws. This entails working with suppliers to handle reporting needs and data protection concerns.To guarantee that everyone is knowledgeable about the response plan and prepared to act promptly in the event of a real breach, arrange cooperative training sessions and simulated breach scenarios with vendors. This fosters greater teamwork and aids in discovering any process gaps.