Cyber security 101: How your small business can move on after a cyber attack

How can I build a cyber-secure organization?

Cyber security isn’t just about technology — it’s about creating a culture of vigilance and preparedness. Here’s how to integrate it into your business:

Establish a breach plan

A breach plan is your emergency action plan, detailing the steps to take when a cyber attack occurs. It should outline things like how to save important data, how to maintain business operations, and how to notify customers. It’s vital that this plan include a communication strategy, which identifies who needs to be informed and how while maintaining transparency and customer trust.

You may need to review and update your breach plan regularly to adapt to new threats and keep all team members familiar with protocols in the event of an attack.

Provide ongoing employee training

Routine training sessions keep your team updated on new threats, as well as continues to foster a culture of security. These learning opportunities will help employees recognize and respond to potential threats, reducing the risk of human error, which can be a weak link in cyber security.

It’s imperative to encourage a culture of respect and openness, so your team members feel comfortable reporting potential threats.

How do I respond in the event of a cyber attack?

If your business is on the receiving end of a cyber attack, it can be a scary and a confusing time. But know that there are actions you can take to help mitigate damage and successfully recover — and give you peace of mind moving forward.

Here are five steps to effectively move forward in the wake of a cyber attack:

Step 1: Identify

Start by taking inventory of all your software, hardware, data sources, and third-party vendors with access to your data. Use this information to draft a cyber security policy that clearly outlines roles and responsibilities and share it with your team.

This policy needs to be clear, accessible, and updated with regularity. By identifying your assets and who has access to them, you can better protect your business against potential cyber threats.

Step 2: Protect

Safeguard your business by implementing protective measures. Deploy antivirus, anti-malware, and firewall solutions to shield your systems. Monitor or maintain logs for network and device access to detect unusual activity.

Make sure your data can be quickly restored in the event of a breach by performing regular backups. If you’re getting rid of data or devices, ensure the relevant sensitive information is irretrievable.

Lastly, schedule routine training sessions to keep your team aware of best practices, the latest threats, and how to protect against them.

Step 3: Detect

When it comes to swiftly recovering from a cyber attack, it pays to be vigilant. This means monitoring your systems for signs of unauthorized or suspicious activities.

Lookout for unusual internal or external connections to your network, and make sure that all connections are secure and legitimate.

Step 4: Respond

It’s essential to have a cyber security response plan that’s thorough, as well as routinely practiced and tested. The plan will include protocols on reporting breaches to authorities, customers, and other stakeholders. It’s imperative that everyone understands their responsibilities so they can act quickly.

This response plan should include procedures to keep your business operations running smoothly through an attack, as well as a contingency plans to minimize disruptions. By staying informed on emerging threats, you can adjust the plan and your shields accordingly.

Step 5: Recover

After an attack, it’s time to focus on repairing and restoring your impacted systems. Make sure you keep your team — and, if appropriate, your customers — updated on your recovery efforts. By maintaining transparent communication with your customers and employees about the steps being taken to resolve the issue, you reassure stakeholders and rebuild trust.

By following these steps and fostering a proactive approach to cyber security, small and mid-sized businesses can significantly reduce their vulnerability and better their ability to recover from cyber attacks. The foundation of effective security lies in preparedness, vigilance, and continuous improvement.

We have your back

In this digital era, safeguarding your business against cyber threats is not just an option — it’s a necessity.

Don’t wait until it’s too late. Reach out to our team of experienced advisors. We can assess your business’ cyber readiness or provide ongoing support for your IT environment.