We recently ran a webinar together with the UK Cyber Security Council with the title ‘Bridging the Gap: Emergency Response and Cyber Security Teams.’ The process of preparing for that webinar got me thinking about these two teams and how critical they are to every company. So, I wanted to share some insights from that webinar.
Understanding the Teams
Firstly, let’s look more closely at the teams. Emergency Response teams (ERTs) primarily handle physical and environmental threats, such as natural disasters, workplace accidents, faulty equipment and evacuations. Their key responsibilities include incident response, business recovery, and ensuring the safety of personnel. Challenges for ERTs often involve coordination, training, and the unpredictable nature of crises.
IT and cybersecurity teams, on the other hand, focus on digital threats, IT infrastructure management, and cybersecurity incidents. They navigate an intense and ever-evolving threat landscape while adhering to strict regulatory compliance.
Emergency Response Team (ERT)
IT and IT Security Teams
Key responsibilities and focus areas
- Preparedness
- Incident response
- Recovery
- Cybersecurity
- IT infrastructure management
- Incident response
Typical challenges faced
- Coordination
- Training
- Unpredictability of crises
- Evolving cyber threats
- Regulatory compliance
- System reliability
Similarities and Differences
Both teams share common ground in risk assessment, incident response, recovery efforts, and the need for clear communication. However, their specific domains differ. ERTs deal with physical threats, first aid, and evacuations, while IT teams address digital threats, cybersecurity solutions, and data breach containment.
ERTs often excel in crisis communication and simulation drills, while IT teams shine in incident documentation, continuous monitoring, and technology adoption. Interestingly, more than half of critical events in corporate environments now involve digital threats, highlighting the increasing need for collaboration between these teams.
Emergency Response Team (ERT)
IT and IT Security Teams
Similarities
- Proactive risk assessment and mitigation.
- Incident response and recovery focus.
- Dependence on clear communication and collaboration.
Differences
- Physical threats
- First aid and evacuation
- Immediate action in physical environments
- Digital threats
- Cybersecurity tools and protocols.
- Digital containment strategies
Learning from each other
The ERTs and IT and cybers security teams can learn from one another. Even though the focus of an incident may differ, both of these teams are dealing with something that is disrupting the business and its operations. And fundamentally, they both want the same thing - to protect against these disruptions, to adapt and to recover from them and to restore operations. In a nutshell, they both want to help their company achieve operational resiliency.
Emergency Response Team (ERT)
IT and IT Security Teams
Key Strengths
- Crisis Communication:
Managing human-centric messaging during crises. - Simulation and Drills:
Learning from ERT's regular emergency rehearsals. - Collaborative Culture:
Promoting cross-functional engagement in response planning.
- Incident Documentation:
Leveraging structured reporting and analysis tools. - Continuous Monitoring:
Implementing real-time sensors and systems for risk detection. - Use of Technology:
Adopting tools for predictive modeling and crisis simulation.
You can check out the webinar here.
Quick Tip:
Start somewhere and start specific - if you don’t know who the other team is, find out. Reach out and book a meeting and compare notes. If you do know the other team, find common ground. Run an exercise together or share key learnings from your last exercise.
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