You’re Facing a Cyberattack; Now What?

In today’s digital business world, hackers are after your most precious asset—your data. Companies, especially small businesses, need to stay vigilant to keep their network secure. According to MSNBC, small businesses make up 43 percent of online attack victims, and only 14 percent are prepared to defend themselves from these threats. It’s a big job, but with the help of a business partner—like your technology solutions provider (TSP)—you can ride the waves of a cyberattack and recover faster.

Partnering with a TSP provides someone to guide you during a crisis. Let’s take a closer look at some of the ways that you and your TSP can minimize the damage following a cyberattack.

Don’t wait until it’s too late to protect your business.

 

1. Get the Word Out

Ransomware and other cyber threats can spread quickly, so don’t waste any time letting stakeholders know you’ve been attacked. Tell your employees about the attack and share the steps they need to take.

Also, keep in mind that you may need to tell the authorities and customers with compromised data about the attack. Most states and U.S. territories have laws in place that require companies to send data breach notifications to consumers when their personally identifiable information may be compromised. The worst thing you can do is try to sweep your data breach under the rug because this may cause irreparable harm to your company’s reputation.

 

2. Isolate the Infection

As you’re letting the key stakeholders within your company know about the attack, you should move quickly to stop the spread of the breach. To do this, you need to remove all infected computers from the network as soon the compromised machines are identified. However, before you start unplugging computers, please consult your IT specialist.

 

3. Determine What Was Stolen

This step is sometimes overlooked in the commotion of the initial news of the attack, but it’s a critical step. Knowing what was stolen will determine the priority of which things need to get fixed first and what steps need to be taken. The process for handling a hack may be different for compromised emails versus compromised bank account numbers.

 

4. Invest in New Security Solutions

Once the attack has ended and the damage contained, it’s time to start rebuilding. To do this, you’ll need to replace the failed security software and hardware with a new, up-to-date solution. In addition to software, make sure to deploy new protocols and training to strengthen your company’s security.

 

How We Can Help

Hopefully, you’ll never have to experience an attack that requires you to do the steps listed above. One of the easiest ways to prevent the fallout of an attack is by improving your cybersecurity before an incident occurs. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Let us protect your business. Our team of cybersecurity professionals can run vulnerability audits and fortify any weaknesses in your network before hackers can exploit them.

Protect Your Most Valuable Asset

Partner up with us, and we’ll secure your network from the unknown. Let’s Connect.