Adopting a three-step strategy for functional innovation network protection risk decrease and incident response involves a structured approach to enhance cybersecurity defenses and resilience. The focus is on protecting the network, mitigating risks, and ensuring an effective response to incidents. Here are the types of steps typically involved:

1. Risk Assessment and Prevention

• Identify vulnerabilities: Conduct a thorough assessment of potential risks to the network, including both internal and external threats, such as malware, phishing, or hardware vulnerabilities.
• Implement preventive controls: Strengthen network defenses through:
  • Firewalls, Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), and Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS).
  • Endpoint security: Implement robust antivirus and anti-malware solutions.
  • Access control: Apply role-based access controls (RBAC) to limit exposure to sensitive data.
  • Patch management: Regularly update software and hardware to prevent known vulnerabilities.
• Awareness training: Educate employees on cybersecurity best practices, including phishing prevention and safe internet usage.

2. Continuous Monitoring and Detection

• Real-time network monitoring: Deploy tools for continuous monitoring of the network for unusual activity, such as Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems.
• Threat intelligence: Leverage real-time threat feeds to stay updated on the latest threats and emerging vulnerabilities.
• Behavioral analytics: Use advanced analytics to detect deviations from normal network behavior that could indicate malicious activity.
• Incident detection mechanisms: Set up automated alerts for immediate detection of threats or potential breaches.

3. Incident Response and Recovery

• Develop an incident response plan: Establish a clear protocol for addressing security incidents, including roles and responsibilities, communication procedures, and escalation paths.
• Containment: When an incident occurs, quickly isolate affected systems to prevent the spread of malware or further data breaches.
• Eradication and recovery: Remove malicious actors or software from the network and restore operations from backups, ensuring the integrity of data.
• Post-incident analysis: Conduct a root cause analysis to understand how the incident occurred, and apply lessons learned to strengthen security controls.
• Continuous improvement: Update the security strategy and incident response plan regularly based on the latest threat landscape and feedback from post-incident reviews.

This three-step strategy—prevention, monitoring, and response—helps reduce network risks and improves the organization’s ability to respond to and recover from incidents effectively.