Experiencing a cyber attack can leave you feeling overwhelmed and understandably upset. However, taking a few key steps immediately afterwards is essential to help your business recover and reduce the risk of a follow-up attack
What is a cyber attack?
A cyber attack is an unauthorised, intentional effort to steal, expose, alter, disable or destroy data and applications through access to a network, computer system or digital device. The attacker will usually seek some type of benefit from disrupting the victims network and more often than not, it is usually for financial gain.
What is a data breach?
A data breach is a type of cyber attack in which the attacker accesses private data and personal information. Data breaches can have serious consequences for both the business and their customers, which is why appropriate measures must be taken to compensate for losses and restore privacy.
What should be done immediately after a cyber attack?
There are several crucial steps to take during an attack and immediately afterwards to help your business recover and protect your client information.
- Follow your incident response plan
Having a detailed cyber incident response plan can help to make your recovery process less stressful. The plan should clearly assign responsibilities to team members and individuals within your business, while outlining all the essential steps your organisation should take to ensure a smooth recovery.
- Create a business interruption plan
If your business needs to resume operations quickly, you should create a business interruption plan tailored to the situation. Identify alternatives for the processes disrupted by the cyber attack and ensure your employees understand how to adapt to the new working conditions.
At Stanmore Insurance, we can provide your company with Business Interruption Cover which helps to protect you from any financial losses your business may suffer from if it is unable to operate as usual due to a cyber attack.
- Recover or rebuild data
If you have a cyber recovery system, you should attempt to restore any data that may have been compromised or stolen. If your response plan includes backups, you will need to rebuild any data created since your most recent backup.
- Analyse and improve your cybersecurity procedures
A crucial step after a cyber attack is to review your cyber security plan and identify any gaps where improvements are needed. Strengthen your security protocols and update all passwords, ensuring your employees do the same. Educating your staff is one of the most effective ways to prevent future attacks and keep your clients’ data secure.
How long does it take a business to recover from a cyber attack?
Recovery time after a cyber attack depends on its severity. Small breaches may take just a few days to resolve, while major attacks involving personal or financial data can take a month or more to secure systems and prevent further incidents.
Preventing future cyber attacks
Cyber attacks are becoming increasingly common and the financial consequences can be catastrophic, no matter what size business you have.
At Stanmore Insurance, we offer fully comprehensive cyber insurance policies to help keep your business safe and prevent future cyber attacks from happening. Our experts can help you to navigate confusing cyber insurance policies and provide you with all the advice and support you need to protect your business from a second cyber attack.