Organizations face increasing threats from fast-moving cyberattackers, yet many still lack adequate preparation for such incidents. Regular planning, drills, and clear protocols can determine how quickly a business recovers, according to Microsoft’s security leaders at the Black Hat conference in Las Vegas. Companies that fail to prioritize security readiness may experience longer disruptions and greater damage during incidents. Solid preparation has become an expectation, given the accelerating techniques of advanced threat actors who are exploiting even basic security failures.
Reports from earlier years showed organizations focused on investing in new security technology, but there was less emphasis on incident response exercises and coordination. As attack dwell times have fallen, Microsoft’s latest stance prioritizes proactive organization-wide rehearsals and improved oversight, marking a shift from relying mainly on detection tools. The dialogue emphasizes detection and response as continuous, integrated activities rather than isolated IT tasks. These insights are especially relevant now, as attackers’ tactics grow more sophisticated and leverage gaps in human process just as often as technological vulnerabilities.
Why Do Few Organizations Rehearse Incident Response?
Andrew Rapp, senior director of security research at Microsoft, noted just 25% of organizations have both a documented incident response plan and have actually practiced it. Regular drills foster a coordinated approach when attacks occur, enabling a more efficient mitigation and recovery process. Without such preparation, response efforts may be fragmented, prolonging business impact.
What Are the Common Weaknesses Attackers Target?
Microsoft experts highlighted that most attackers exploit basic oversights like unpatched servers and improper logging. Simeon Kakpovi, a senior threat intelligence analyst at Microsoft, remarked that, “They’ll do social engineering. If you’re not patching servers, they’ll take advantage of that.” Addressing basic controls—such as software updates and network visibility—can limit attacker movement and minimize harm. Advanced threat actors still prefer the simplest entry points before deploying complex strategies.
How Can Organizations Improve Their Defense?
Security specialists recommended organizations analyze attacker methods with a mindset shift: defenders should map potential attack pathways rather than focus solely on isolated assets. Sherrod DeGrippo, director of threat intelligence strategy at Microsoft, advised,
“Data is key. Having visibility across your network, ensuring that you’re logging everything, that you have properly configured all of the protections, and you’re using all of the features and capabilities that are in your products is table stakes.”
Organizations also benefit from using threat intelligence tailored to their sector, enhancing their understanding of the most relevant risks, DeGrippo added,
“If you do experience a breach, missing logs really contribute to a nightmare scenario for both intel and incident responders.”
Building out a robust incident response plan, maintaining current software, and conducting regular exercises can reduce the impact of an attack. The approach outlined by Microsoft shows an evolution from merely technical fixes to disciplined organizational readiness. While technology remains crucial, the human factor in planning and responding has become equally critical. The evidence suggests that investing time in practice, monitoring, and fundamental controls directly shortens recovery times and shrinks security risks, providing tangible value to organizations facing persistent digital threats. For security teams, focusing on a practical incident response plan and continuous exercises can bridge the gap between theory and effective crisis management. Attention to basic controls, thorough logging, and awareness of industry-specific threats are vital strategies to curtail losses and speed up return to normalcy after an attack.
