Tracy Reinhold, Chief Security Officer at Everbridge reveals the way forward for cyber preparedness. 

How does Everbridge define cyber preparedness and why is it crucial for modern organisations? 

Cyber preparedness involves proactive planning, risk assessment and the implementation of comprehensive strategies to prevent, detect, respond to and recover from cyber incidents.  

It is crucial because cyber threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated and frequent, potentially causing significant disruptions to business operations, financial losses, and reputational damage.  

From Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks to sophisticated malware, the challenges organisations face in safeguarding their digital operations are multifaceted. 

What specific features does Everbridge offer to help companies enhance their cyber preparedness? 

Everbridge provides a range of features including real-time risk monitoring, automated incident response workflows, comprehensive communication tools and detailed reporting capabilities.  

These features enable organisations to quickly identify threats, coordinate effective responses, maintain operational continuity, and comply with regulatory requirements.  

By focusing on guided and automated resolution, empowering NOC and SOC teams, building cyber resilience and addressing the technical-business gap, Everbridge ensures that organisations can effectively respond to cyber incidents while also proactively enhancing their overall cybersecurity posture. 

How does Everbridge integrate with existing cybersecurity frameworks? 

Everbridge seamlessly integrates with a variety of cybersecurity tools and frameworks, including SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) systems, threat intelligence platforms and other security infrastructure.

This integration allows for a unified approach to threat detection and response.  

Furthermore, Everbridge workflow automation capabilities empower organisations without the need for extensive coding or the limitations associated with legacy software implementations.

This approach ensures a cost-effective and scalable solution that aligns with the dynamic nature of cybersecurity.  

Can you share an example where Everbridge significantly improved an organisation’s cyber resilience? 

One notable example is a leading private research university which lacked a central coordinating tool during cyber-attacks and system outages.  

By leveraging Everbridge IT incident response platform, they were able to escalate communications to team members across such diverse groups as network operations (NOC), app development and data storage.  

The automated workflows and real-time alerts provided enabled the university System Support team to restore normal operations faster than expected, minimising financial and reputational damage. 

What steps does Everbridge recommend for enhancing cyber resilience? 

We recommend several key steps: 

1. Conduct a thorough risk assessment to identify potential cyber threats and vulnerabilities

2. Implement comprehensive incident response plans that include automated workflows and clear communication protocols 

3. Regularly test and update these plans through simulations and drills

4. Ensure continuous monitoring of the threat landscape using advanced tools and threat intelligence

5. Foster a culture of cybersecurity awareness and preparedness across the organisation, involving all stakeholders in the process

This article was originally published in the August Edition of Security Journal UK. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.