The Cyber Defense eMagazine March Edition for 2024

Below are answers to the two most critical questions business leaders have been asking about the new
disclosure rules since implementation:
There are Two Major Components to Compliance.
To make compliance as simple as possible for business leaders, it is best for them to focus on the two
major components of the rule. The first being that public companies are now required to disclose both
material cybersecurity incidents within 72 hours on new item 1.05 of Form 8-K. This means that public
businesses must have a plan in place for swift investigation and reporting in the hours following a
cybersecurity material incident. Best practices for doing so include assigning a team or task force focused
on mitigating incidents as they occur, as well as managing the completion of proper documentation in the
aftermath. This information should also be shared with investors and key stakeholders in a timely and
consistent manner.
Secondly, the rule requires the reporting of material information regarding cybersecurity risk
management, strategy, and governance on an annual basis. This reinforces the critical need for creating,
adapting, and executing formal cybersecurity response plans, led by a dedicated team.
Reporting Should Cover the What, When & Why.
So, you had a material incident occur. What do you need to include in your report? This is the question
that has been top of mind for leaders since the rule was first proposed in March 2022. Thankfully, in
recent months, the SEC has provided more context to what they are looking for in official incident reports,
and it’s simpler than you would expect. Basically, your report should cover three questions: what, when
and why?
What?
For starters, public companies must describe the nature, scope, and timing of the material incident, as
well as the current or likely material impact. A material impact is defined as a consequence that has a
negative impact on corporate financial position, operation, or customer service. Companies need not get
too specific in the technicalities of the breach so as not to leave them vulnerable to future cyber incidents.
When?
As for the “when,” prior to the rule taking effect, there was a lot of discourse over the expectation of a
rapid turnaround of reporting following an incident. However, it has since been clarified by the SEC that
the discovery of a cyber incident is NOT the triggering event for the 72-hour reporting deadline, but rather
the determination that the breach was a material incident. That means that, following a breach, a
company can do the proper due diligence of investigating the breach, interviewing staff, and working with
vendors and third parties to conclude the incident was material before the countdown to disclose begins.
Exceptions are made and reasonable delays are awarded in situations where companies do not have
the paperwork or details available to file a report in that time frame.
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