Learn the Difference Between Events and Incidents with Examples

In cybersecurity and security operations, two terms are quite popular- Event and Incident. Most of the beginners slip in to the confusion and fail to distinguish between them and often used interchangeably. At first glance, both refer to occurrences within a system, but their implications and the required responses differ significantly. Understanding the clear distinction between these terms is crucial for efficient management, prioritization, and resolution of security issues within an organization. Upon reading this article, you will be a position to confidently distinguish between an Event and an Incident.

What is an Event?

An event is an observable occurrence within a system or network. Events happen continuously in every IT environment and can range from routine, harmless actions to activities that may indicate a potential problem. It's important to note that not every event is a cause for concern.

Key Characteristics of an Event:

Examples of Events:

Adverse Events

Within the broader category of events, we have a subset known as adverse events. An adverse event is defined as an event with negative consequences or potential negative impact on the system or organization.

Examples of Adverse Events:

Adverse events warrant closer attention and may require further investigation to determine their cause and potential impact.

Informational Events vs. Adverse Events:

It's important to note that events are not inherently good or bad; they are merely occurrences that can be observed and recorded. The significance of an event depends on its context and potential impact on the system or organization.

What is an Incident?

While all incidents are adverse events, not all adverse events are incidents. An incident refers to a significant event that indicates a violation of a system’s security policy, acceptable use policy, or standard security practices.

Key Characteristics of an Incident:

According to  NIST Special Publication 800-61, an incident is defined as a "violation or imminent threat of violation of computer security policies, acceptable use policies, or standard security practices." This definition emphasizes that an incident must have a direct impact on the security posture of an organization, leading to potential data breaches, service interruptions, or compromise of sensitive information.

Examples of Incidents:

In contrast to events, incidents usually trigger predefined procedures, requiring involvement from specialized teams, such as a Cybersecurity Incident Response Team (CIRT), to mitigate the risk and minimize damage.

Differences Between Events and Incidents

The distinction between events and incidents lies in their nature, scope, and the response they invoke. While an event can be benign or informational, an incident always involves a violation or imminent threat to security.

Event vs. Incident – Practical Example

Consider the following scenario:

Incident Response Planning and Severity Levels

Organizations often categorize events and incidents by severity levels to determine the appropriate response. Severity levels range from minor incidents, such as the detection of blocked malware, to severe incidents like a full-scale data breach or ransomware attack. In minor incidents, the IT team can often handle the issue internally without escalating to a full incident response plan. However, major incidents often activate the Cyber Incident Response Team (CIRT), requiring a more coordinated and structured approach to containment and resolution.

Real-World Examples: Distinguishing Events from Incidents

To further clarify the difference between events and incidents, let's examine some practical scenarios and determine whether they qualify as events or incidents.

Scenario 1: Successful Login

A user successfully logs into their workstation at the beginning of the workday.

Classification: Event Explanation: This is a routine, expected occurrence that doesn't violate any security policies. It's an observable event that should be logged but doesn't require any specific response.

Scenario 2: Failed Login Attempts

Multiple failed login attempts are recorded for a user account over a short period.

Classification: Event (potentially escalating to an Incident) Explanation: Initially, this would be classified as an adverse event. However, if the number of failed attempts exceeds a predefined threshold or exhibits a pattern indicative of a brute-force attack, it could escalate to an incident requiring investigation and response.

Scenario 3: Malware Detection

The antivirus software detects and successfully blocks a piece of malware from executing on a user's computer.

Classification: Incident (minor) Explanation: Even though the malware was blocked, this situation represents a violation of security practices and policies. It's considered an incident, albeit a minor one that may not require full incident response team activation.

Scenario 4: Unexpected System Reboot

A critical server unexpectedly reboots during business hours.

Classification: Adverse Event (potentially escalating to an Incident) Explanation: Initially, this would be classified as an adverse event. It requires investigation to determine the cause. If the reboot was due to a security issue (e.g., exploitation of a vulnerability), it would be escalated to an incident.

Scenario 5: Data Exfiltration

A security information and event management (SIEM) system detects unusual outbound traffic, indicating potential data exfiltration.

Classification: Incident Explanation: This scenario clearly indicates a potential security breach and violation of data protection policies. It requires immediate investigation and response, qualifying it as an incident.

See this below table with more such examples.

The Importance of Proper Classification

Correctly distinguishing between events and incidents is crucial for several reasons:

Managing Events and Incidents

Logging and Monitoring Events

A fundamental aspect of managing events is having robust logging and monitoring tools in place. Organizations must track every occurrence within the network to identify patterns that could signal adverse events or potential incidents. Event logging tools, like SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) systems, provide real-time insights into system behavior and help in early detection of issues before they escalate into incidents.

Incident Response Plans (IRP)

When an event is determined to be an incident, an Incident Response Plan (IRP) comes into play. This plan outlines the steps required to contain, mitigate, and recover from the incident. The IRP often includes:

Conclusion

Understanding the difference between events and incidents is fundamental to effective cybersecurity and incident response planning. While events are simply observable occurrences within a system or network, incidents specifically involve violations or threats to security policies and practices.

By correctly classifying and responding to events and incidents, organizations can improve their overall security posture, allocate resources more effectively, and minimize the impact of genuine security threats. Remember, the key lies in developing clear policies, implementing robust monitoring systems, and continually refining your incident response processes based on real-world experiences.

As you develop or refine your incident response plan, consider using tools like MITRE ATT&CK to map out potential incidents and improve your detection and response capabilities. Additionally, frameworks like the NIST Cybersecurity Framework can provide valuable guidance in developing comprehensive incident response strategies.

By mastering the distinction between events and incidents and implementing effective classification and response procedures, you'll be well-equipped to handle the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats.

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