What is an activity useful during the planning stage of the plan-protect-respond cycle?

The selected activity—simulating attacks that a hacker would try—serves a critical role during the planning stage of the plan-protect-respond cycle. This activity provides valuable insights into potential vulnerabilities within an organization’s systems and helps in identifying weak points before they can be exploited in a real attack. By conducting these simulations, organizations can assess their preparedness and response strategies, allowing them to develop more effective protection measures and improve their incident response plans.

Simulating attacks fosters a proactive approach to cybersecurity, enabling organizations to anticipate threats rather than react to them after a breach has occurred. This planning phase is essential for building resilience and ensuring that defenses are in place to protect sensitive information and systems effectively. Understanding potential attack vectors helps in strategizing the necessary resources and actions needed to strengthen security protocols.

Engaging in such simulations early in the planning process lays a foundation for a robust cybersecurity framework where other activities, such as employee training and system monitoring, can be developed in alignment with the insights gained from the simulations.