What to do in the event of a cyber attack on your company?
When a cyber attack occurs, it’s essential to know how to react to protect your business. A rapid, structured response can limit the damage and ensure business continuity. The first step is to understand the nature of the threat and take immediate action to contain the attack.
Detecting cyber attacks within your organization
The first step in knowing what to do in the event of a cyber attack on your company is to detect it correctly. Common signs include unusual system behavior, unauthorized file modifications or ransomware. Typical symptoms can also be unexplained slowdowns, unusual error messages or unauthorized access.
We recommend using network monitoring software, up-to-date antivirus software and intrusion detection systems (IDS) to effectively detect cyber attacks. Regular, proactive monitoring can help identify threats before they cause significant damage. Companies also need to train their employees to recognize the signs of a cyber attack, and to report any suspicious activity immediately.
Immediate steps to take in the event of a cyber attack at your company
Once identified, here’s what to do immediately in the event of a cyber attack:
1. Isolate infected systems
The first action to take is to disconnect compromised systems from the network. This prevents the attacker from accessing other parts of your infrastructure and limits the damage. By isolating systems, you prevent the attack spreading to other devices and networks. This isolation must be carried out quickly to minimize the impact. Infected computers and servers must be disconnected from internal and external networks, including the Internet. It may be necessary to use backup devices to maintain critical operations during this isolation period.
2. Disable network access
After isolating infected systems, block non-essential connections to limit attacker access. This reduces the ability of cybercriminals to manipulate your systems remotely. It’s important to restrict administrative access and monitor suspicious connections. Close unused ports and apply strict security policies to remaining accesses. In addition, it may be necessary to change passwords and revoke compromised user access to prevent further intrusion attempts.
3. Notify IT security teams
Notify your IT team immediately so they can take the necessary action. A rapid, coordinated response is essential to minimize the impact of the attack. Security teams need to be ready to respond 24/7, and it’s important to have a clear, well-communicated plan of action. Early notification helps mobilize the necessary resources and coordinate efforts to contain and resolve the incident. What’s more, it can be useful to have an external team of cybersecurity specialists on hand to help when needed. Document all steps and actions taken to ensure effective post-incident follow-up and analysis.
These initial actions are essential to contain the cyberattack and prevent its spread. In the event of a cyber attack in your company, it is also advisable to have a well-defined and regularly tested response plan to ensure a rapid and effective response.
Data recovery following the cyber attack
To limit the impact and return to a normal situation, here’s what to do in the event of a cyber attack to recover your data:
First of all, we strongly advise against paying the ransom demanded by cybercriminals. Paying does not guarantee data recovery and encourages criminals to continue their activities. Instead, use secure backups to restore lost or damaged data. Make sure your backups are free from compromise before restoring them. After restoration, check that all systems are intact and operational.
If you’re having trouble recovering your data, it may be a good idea to call in data recovery experts like Databack. Our laboratory uses advanced techniques to restore data without encouraging cybercriminals. Calling in the specialists not only means you can recover your data securely, but also benefit from advice on how to strengthen the security of your IT infrastructure.
Finally, don’t forget to document the incident and recovery measures to improve incident response procedures and plans.
The importance of good communication…
Internal and external communication is essential throughout the crisis management process. Inform managers, employees and security teams about the attack and the measures taken. In addition, it’s important to communicate with your customers, partners and, if necessary, the relevant authorities about the incident. Transparent and prompt communication helps maintain stakeholder confidence and manage expectations.
It is advisable to prepare communication templates for different cyber-attack scenarios in advance, to speed up the process in the event of an incident. Communication management should include regular updates on how the situation is progressing and what steps are being taken to resolve the problem.
In conclusion, effective communication is essential to managing a cyber attack in your company. It enables you to coordinate internal efforts, maintain the confidence of customers and partners, and comply with legal and regulatory obligations. Transparency and responsiveness are the keys to successful communication during a cyber crisis.
19 August 2024