No matter how expert you are at company management and how secure and well organised your business model is, things can still go wrong. What’s more important however is ensuring that when the worst has happened, you can bounce back. What business resilience do you have in place and how easy is it to implement? In this web article, we’re going to explore getting ‘back in business’ after an IT blip.
Crisis? What crisis?
If your business is the target of a data breach or cyberattack, then your company could suffer in a number of ways. It could mean the loss of customer or client data, such as payment details or addresses, or further security breaches, data theft or even demands for payment following a ransomware attack. In addition to these issues that will require resolving, there is also the untold impact reputational damage can do to your business. If you are affected by cybercrime or a data breach, you will have to inform your customers, as word gets around – particularly within the business community.
We’re capable of dealing with all kinds of data breaches and cyberattacks, and there are a number of expected actions that would be implemented during any kind of disaster scenario. This would include invoking a Disaster Recovery (DR) plan. This is a documented, structured approach that describes how the organisation can quickly resume operations after an unexpected incident. It’s applied to any part of the business that depends on its IT structure to operate. The plan will aim to resolve data loss and ensure functionality is restored in the aftermath of an IT issue. The immediate actions would include assembling an incident response team, who can assess the scope and impact of the incident, so they can prioritise critical systems for recovery. This will very much depend on the size of the business, the complexity of the IT system and the extent to which is has been affected. As with any IT issue that has a direct impact on a business – and its efficiency and ability to function – the earlier it is addressed, the better.
Resolve and restore
Once the dust settles, we will be able to determine the extent and impact the issues have had. Here several considerations come into play. These include factors such as media and customer relations, law enforcement and data replacement. When it comes to customer relations and the media, it’s very important to ensure transparency and accessibility. Use your media outlets and lines of communication – be they social or personal – to provide regular updates, whilst stressing your thanks for their patience and help. Honesty is the best policy, and it should be you who drives the narrative – it would only reflect badly on you if your clients, customers or suppliers found out about your IT issues from other channels.
We’ll need to double-check and confirm the system’s security. This will require us to conduct an audit, simulate further attacks, update security measures where appropriate and monitor systems functionality. Depending on the type of attack, there could be bugs and viruses still present in the system, so upgrades, patches and other security updates will have to be installed to restore order.
When it comes to insurance, in the case of cyberattacks and security breaches, you’ll have to deal with your claim, as well as any claims raised against you. You’ll have to assess and document damage and impact and work with adjusters. It’s very important at every stage to keep records of all your interactions with various parties. If there’s any contention in the aftermath of a data breach, then a clear ‘paper trail’ audit is essential.
Executive actions
If criminality has occurred, law enforcement may need to become involved. You’ll need to report the incident, provide evidence of what has occurred and follow law enforcement guidance. There may need to be an investigation into who the perpetrators are, and action will be taken if sensitive data and finances were involved. The loss or theft of personal data should be treated with the utmost priority. The investigation will need to identify the breach, inform the affected individuals and report the incident to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). You should also offer support to affected individuals and review and improve processes and security, to avoid any future breaches. The many impacts that security breaches and cyberattacks have on your business cannot be underestimated. Reputational damage for example can lead to reduced sales, a loss of customer or client confidence, and a drop in profits. That is without the real cost of the loss of data and financial information that will take time to repair and recoup. If you would like to talk to one of our experts about how prepared you are for an IT incident – and how protected or vulnerable you are – then contact us today.