The world of cybersecurity never rests, constantly evolving to counteract potential threats and maintain the safety and integrity of businesses' virtual environments. Critical to this cybersecurity network is the 'Incident response procedure', a systematic structure for handling potential cyber incidents. This extensive guide will delve deep into the art of Incident response procedures - a core tactic to achieve cybersecurity success.

An Incident response procedure is an orchestrated plan that dictates how individual and team entities should deal with potential cybersecurity incidents. As technology advances and businesses become more interconnected, the emphasis on a structured, well-engineered Incident response procedure has intensified. However, simply possessing an Incident response procedure is not enough; mastering the art of its deployment is equally if not more important.

Understanding Incident Response Procedure

The primary aim of the Incident response procedure is to efficiently handle a cybersecurity incident so that it mitigates damage and reduces recovery time and costs. One cannot underestimate the power of a well-structured response procedure in preventing potential security incidents and data breaches. It essentially involves six stages:

• Preparation - A proactive approach to fortify defenses.
• Detection & Analysis - Identification of threats and anomaly behavior.
• Containment, Eradication, & Recovery - Control the damage, eliminate the threat, restore operations.
• Post-incident analysis - Learn from the incident to fortify against future occurrences.

Mastering the Preparation Stage

Preparation is the core of any Incident response procedure. This typically involves the establishment of an Incident response team, setting up communication channels, and creating a detailed Incident response plan. Regular team training, the acquisition of necessary tools, and establishing liaisons with third-party contacts can go a long way in the effectiveness of your Incident response setup.

Detection and Analysis: Identifying Potential Threats

Detecting cybersecurity threats is a tricky process. It requires monitoring of logs, scouring the network for any signs of anomaly behaviors, and establishing robust alert systems. Regular assessment and refreshing of threat evolution is crucial. Security teams should leverage advanced technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for early detection and mitigation.

Containment, Eradication, and Recovery

Once an incident has been identified, it's essential to quickly contain the problem to prevent it from spreading further. This could mean disconnecting affected systems or blocking certain IP addresses. Eradicating the threat could involve deleting malicious code or strengthening security measures. After which, regular operations should be restored as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Post-Incident Analysis

Last but not least, a detailed analysis should follow every incident. It's here that your team determines how an incident occurred, what damage it caused, and how it was eventually overcome. This knowledge will help you improve your Incident response procedure and be better prepared for future threats.

In conclusion, mastering the art of the Incident response procedure is not just about having a plan, but about understanding each phase, diligently working through it, and continuously evolving your tactics. Each incident should be perceived as a learning experience to bolster your cybersecurity protocol, creating a resilient network that's better prepared for the digital age's challenges.