Today’s cyber incidents are literally too many to count. Cyber security feels anything but secure.

If your company is seemingly losing the battle against cyber attacks, you are not alone. There are thousands of companies in the same boat – and size doesn’t matter. Small and large organizations alike are being targeted on a minute-by-minute basis.

Don’t for a minute think this problem is going away anytime soon. In fact, experts report that there are nearly one million new malware threats everyday. That number is almost unfathomable.  And, since 2010 the average weekly number of incidents per company has more than tripled to 160.

So, what can you do to bolster the integrity of your systems? Simple. You need an incident response automation playbook. You need a long-term plan.

Dedicate resources to develop an Incident Response Automation Playbook

Without a dedicated plan, your company remains at a high threat level. An astonishing 62% of organizations acknowledge they were breached in 2015, yet only 34% believe they have an effective incident response plan.  

Determine essential defense mechanisms that you will implement

Your company needs to be cyber secure savvy. Across the entire enterprise, decisions and habits need to conform with the overall Incident Response Automation Playbook. A breakdown here or there leaves the organization at great threat, just ask the Democrat National Committee, which lost control of some 20,000 emails this past July.  Or, ask Sony or Target. Nobody is exempt from cyber attack. Your system needs to provide task management and real time metrics.

Execute your Incident Response Automation Playbook

It is essential that your CIO, COO, or CEO leads the charge, as cyber security is an issue that runs throughout every department. Each employee needs to proactively engage in the process and tools need to be easily found and utilized. A cumbersome process will surely fail. As time passes, the data gained from case management will increase the likelihood of cyber safety for your organization.

Your company needs a long-term solution for cyber security. And, like anything else in your business, it won’t happen by accident.  Rest assured, attacks are coming.  Make 2017 the year of change for your organization!