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Why do companies need CSIRT now? Why don't you personalize incident response?

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by 菊池
3 min read

Why do companies need CSIRT now? Why don't you personalize incident response?
Translated from 日本語 • View original
菊池
菊池

Hello, I'm Kikuchi, an analyst at Colorkrew Security. Cyberattack damage is no longer just a problem for some large companies. Supply chain attacks targeting business partners, targeted emails, ransomware, and other cases of damage continue to increase regardless of the size or type of organization.


In this situation, the establishment of a Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT) is attracting attention.


■ What is CSIRT

A CSIRT is a specialized team that responds to and coordinates cybersecurity incidents that occur within a company or organization.
The purpose is not simply to "respond to incidents", but to create a system to minimize damage and prevent recurrence.

The NCA (Japan Seaser Council) defines CSIRT as follows.

For information security incidents that occur inside and outside the organization,
An organization that oversees activities such as detection, analysis, response, recovery, and reporting.

In other words, CSIRT is a "field organization for protection" and a security command tower that connects management and technology.


■ Background of CSIRT Construction

In the past, it was thought that even if a security incident occurred, the Information Systems Department could respond individually.
However, a dedicated response system is now essential for the following reasons.

1. Sophistication and Speed of Attacks

Attackers can target nighttime or holidays and complete everything from intrusion to encryption and information theft within hours.
It's not uncommon for the initial response to be delayed by just a few hours to extend the damage to the entire organization.
To make quick decisions and respond, CSIRT as a permanent team is needed.

2. Clarifying Responsibilities for Information Sharing and Reporting

The Personal Information Protection Act and NISC guidelines now require reporting incidents to relevant authorities and business partners.
To ensure and quickly do this, we need a collaborative system that spans technical departments, legal affairs, public relations, and management.
The CSIRT serves as the "official point of contact" responsible for coordination and decision-making.

3. Breaking away from personal support

If your security response relies on specific personnel, you risk losing responsiveness due to relocation or retirement.
By building a CSIRT as an organization, we will be able to document procedures, judgment criteria, and communication systems and continue to carry them over.

4. Peacetime Preparation and Training Enabled

By establishing a CSIRT, you can evolve from a mere "response organization" to a "defense strengthening organization."
You will be able to systematically implement peacetime measures such as log monitoring, vulnerability management, and hunting activities to prevent attacks before they occur.


■ CSIRT is part of management risk measures

CSIRT is not just an extension of the IT department, but also the core of management risk countermeasures.
In the event of an information breach or business outage, the damage is directly related to the management level, such as loss of customer trust, impact on stock prices, and legal liability.

Therefore, CSIRT serves as a bridge between "on-site technical response" and "management decision".
It is important to position yourself as a part of risk management.


■ Summary: CSIRT construction is a "defensive investment"

By building a CSIRT, organizations gain three powers:

  1. Quick initial response – minimizing damage
  2. Organizational collaboration – integrated response to technology, legal, public relations, and management
  3. Recurrence prevention and continuous improvement capabilities – accumulating experience as organizational knowledge

It cannot completely prevent attacks.
However, increasing resilience after an attack is a risk mitigation that every organization can achieve.
At its core is CSIRT.

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