Does Your Fleet Know How to Respond to a Cyberattack?

Oct 11, 2022

A cyberattack happens when you least expect it. Typically, companies don’t envision cyberattacks because they believe their security was sufficient, or they didn’t take security seriously in the first place. When attacks do happen, events can quickly unfold as damages escalate.

Lessons from past cyberattacks can help companies prepare and respond more successfully to future threats. According to research published by the Cyentia Institute, a business that responds poorly to a cyberattack experiences 2.8 times more losses than companies that respond well to an attack.

Responding correctly to cyberattacks is the responsibility of everyone in an organization, not just the IT security team. Preparedness begins at the top, with leadership that deploys strong security and business continuity processes while avoiding common mistakes that make things worse.

Watch Webinar – Ramping Up Cybersecurity

3 Common Mistakes that Prevent a Successful Recovery

Nobody goes to work expecting a cyberattack, so it catches companies by surprise. People can be caught off guard and quickly overwhelmed when confronted with situations that they haven’t trained for or experienced. As emotions and stress rise, people will be more likely to make mistakes that impact business continuity and damage control.

Unrealistic recovery deadlines and expectations

Senior leaders should be aware that the worst day of a cyberattack isn’t necessarily on day one or two. There could be significant uncertainty for weeks before gaining a full understanding of the scope and damage of the attack.

Recovery will depend on multiple factors, including the systems and software impacted, the type of attack deployed, and overall preparedness. Companies that enlist support from third-party security firms and law enforcement can help to accelerate recovery and minimize damage.

Waiting too long to get help

Many cyberattacks deploy sophisticated tactics and advanced digital tools. Organized crime groups responsible for most attacks have sharpened their tactics and tools to become experts at cybercrime. Few businesses have the resources and expertise needed to defend against experienced cybercriminals alone.

If an attack happens, fleets should not hesitate to get help as soon as possible from organizations such as:

  • Police departments
  • Security specialists and consultants
  • Legal firms
  • Vendors and suppliers
  • Government agencies

In fact, companies should already know who to contact before experiencing a cyberattack. Not all incidents require a coordinated effort involving several organizations. However, working with these groups can significantly accelerate a response to an attack to limit the damage.

Blaming IT and employees in anger

Cyberattacks create a shocking business disruption that feels like it happens instantaneously. Emotions can quickly become heated, resulting in anger and blame towards IT departments and employees. In the wake of an attack, energy should be focused on resolving issues instead of adding pressure that can increase organizational paralysis.

Company leaders must understand that criminals are responsible for an attack—not a hacked IT department or an individual. Business leaders should always focus on solving problems, even if mistakes or oversights occurred.

How Fleets Can Respond Well to Cyberattacks

Data breaches, ransomware, online fraud, and cryptocurrency theft will continue to be a persistent business threat, including trucking fleets of all types. Companies need to ready themselves to respond correctly to an attack, even if they deploy excellent preventative security measures.

Plan and prepare

Companies that prepare for a potential attack can deploy a plan that reduces damage and supports business continuity. Three main aspects of a strong plan include:

Accurate threat detection—Companies should have systems in place to detect incoming attacks and reveal intrusions. IT security systems should provide a transparent view that prevents blind spots in security and ensures an awareness of threats.

Timely incidence response—Incident response capabilities, including digital tools and external support, help to effectively investigate threats and remediate problems before they grow into an attack that disrupts the entire fleet.

Prompt disaster recovery—Disaster recovery plans cover common types of threats to business continuity, including natural disasters, physical threats, and digital attacks. Companies implement disaster recovery capabilities to become more resilient and reduce damage, especially for key business functions and departments. This includes backups for data and core operating processes.

Active leadership instead of delegating

Don’t consider your leadership work complete when you create an incident response procedure. Actively review and test procedures, including them as part of your regular tabletop security exercises. Leaders need to recognize that their active investment in security will greatly improve a company’s response to cyberattacks. A workplace climate of collective responsibility, guided by active leadership, helps to keep organizations running and lessen the impact of cyberattacks.

Open, consistent communication

Companies should maintain open discussions about cybersecurity, before, during, and after threats occur. Leaders with coherent, consistent communication will improve the entire organization’s response to security incidents. When everyone is on the same page, people will understand their roles and responsibilities in the event of a cyberattack, avoiding organizational paralysis.

Secure Solutions for Trucking Companies

Success or failure in the event of a cyberattack depends on an organization’s preparedness, including the in-cab technology that fleets provide for their drivers. ISAAC prepared our in-cab solution and organization to meet strict security standards, including a recent ISO 27001 certification.

Find out how companies can mitigate risk using fleet management technology:

Watch Webinar – Risk Mitigation Using Fleet Solutions

About the author

Joe Russo, Vice President IT & Security

Joe Russo, VP IT & Security at ISAAC, is an IT Executive with over 20 years’ experience leading IT teams in multinational environments and various sectors: banking, pharma, transportation and technology services. He has held senior leadership roles in Switzerland at Morgan Stanley and the Bank for International Settlements, and then in Montreal at McKesson Canada, Syntax and CN Rail. His experience in aligning IT strategy with corporate strategy makes him a strong transformational leader who excels at overcoming technical, cross-cultural and organizational challenges to solve business challenges. Joe holds a MSc in Information Technology & Management from Sheffield University, completed the Mini-MBA program at McGill University and holds CISSP, CRISC and CIPM certifications.

Time to move forward with managed technology

Recent blog articles

How Trimble’s CoPilot Navigation and ISAAC’s ELD Support Fleet Safety

by | Aug 29, 2024 | Best practices | 0 Comments

Driver safety is key to fleet operation and Trimble’s CoPilot navigation and ISAAC’s ELD solution work together to provide the safest driver experience.

DataDis and ISAAC: A Strong Partnership for Simplified Fleet Maintenance

by | Aug 21, 2024 | Best practices | 0 Comments

Discover how the DataDis and ISAAC integration simplifies fleet maintenance and helps ensure compliance with real-time information update.

Let Anytrek and ISAAC Help You Follow Your Cargo

by | Jul 22, 2024 | Best practices | 0 Comments

Discover how Anytrek's innovative GPS tracking and asset utilization reports enhance fleet management efficiency, security, and compliance.
Truck driver wearing a safety vest using a tablet roadside with a white semi-truck in the background.

5 Keys to Avoid Problems With Fleet Tablets

by | Jun 25, 2024 | Cost savings | 0 Comments

Learning from the experience of peers Our peer discussion, “Lessons Learned from Consumer-Grade Tablets,” was ISAAC’s first webinar of the year. It brought together...

Bypass 900+ weigh stations in North America for maximum efficiency and safety

by | Jun 17, 2024 | Best practices | 0 Comments

Drivewyze Preclear integrated into ISAAC ELDs Drivewyze and ISAAC are on a mission to improve transportation safety and efficiency, through their integrated suite of...

White tanker truck on highway with digital cybersecurity lock icon overlay.

Why Cybersecurity for Your Trucking Fleet Should Be Top Priority

by | Jun 6, 2024 | Cybersecurity | 0 Comments

Trucking companies face more cyberthreats than ever before. Technology is essential for planning routes, maintaining vehicles, and communication, but it also makes...

Truck driver wearing a high-visibility vest smiling while driving, showcasing the use of ISAAC Coach technology.

Understanding the ISAAC Coach: A Sustainable Trucking Solution

by | May 31, 2024 | Best practices | 0 Comments

The ISAAC Coach enhances truck safety, reduces costs, and supports eco-friendly practices. Read how real-time driver coaching can help you.
White tank truck equipped with ISAAC Instruments telematics solutions driving on a highway, symbolizing advanced fleet management for safety and efficiency.

Why Telematics for Tank Trucks Are a Must

by | Apr 24, 2024 | Safety | 0 Comments

Discover how Telematics for Tank Trucks elevates efficiency, safety, and ROI. Transform your fleet operations today!
A truck driver examines a handheld ISAAC Instruments device, ready to employ advanced fleet management technology on the road.

The Future of Fleet Management Solutions

by | Apr 17, 2024 | Innovation | 0 Comments

Explore how ISAAC Instruments leads in fleet management solutions, enhancing safety, efficiency, and fuel savings for future-ready operations.