Client issue: A global mobility company experienced a sophisticated SIM hijacking attack on one of their senior managers. The attack led to the theft of the manager’s email mailbox, compromising sensitive internal company information, sensitive vendor information, and customer information.
The immediate aftermath presented a dual challenge: rapidly understanding the scope and impact of the breach for internal remediation and fulfilling stringent regulatory notification requirements within tight deadlines. This involved identifying exactly what data was exfiltrated, which individuals were affected, and how to defensibly preserve and analyze all relevant system logs and data fragments to reconstruct the incident. The pressure was high to minimize reputational damage and avoid severe regulatory fines.
CRA approach:
- Conducted immediate forensic imaging and preservation of affected systems, servers, and cloud environments to secure potential evidence
- Performed deep-dive analysis of network logs, endpoint data, and compromised databases to identify the point of entry, duration, and extent of the breach
- Leveraged advanced data analytics, including Relativity Data Breach Response, to pinpoint specific compromised data types (e.g., PII, financial data) and affected individuals
- Quickly assembled a team experienced in PII review to examine results
- Collaborated closely with cybersecurity incident response teams to facilitate a coordinated and efficient investigation
- Assisted in preparing data for regulatory submissions and consumer notification letters, ensuring accuracy and compliance with various breach notification laws (e.g., CCPA, GDPR, state-specific laws)
- Provided defensible documentation of the entire eDiscovery and forensic process for potential regulatory scrutiny or litigation
Client impact: Rapid and precise eDiscovery response enabled the client to quickly ascertain the full scope of the data breach, including specific data and the number of affected individuals. This information initiated timely and accurate regulatory notifications, significantly reducing the risk of penalties and demonstrating proactive compliance. Providing clear, defensible evidence and a streamlined process, helped the client manage the crisis, minimize reputational harm, and build a solid foundation for any subsequent legal or regulatory issues.
