Today, our lives are heavily dependent on technology. The internet, for starters, has made communication, data transfer, and storage convenient and accessible for everyone. We can store our personal information, sensitive documents, credentials, and financial data without hassle and for free.
But with so much convenience and accessibility, there are chances of a data breach. With hundreds of threats lurking around every time you’re online. Sadly, these threats are why several industries and companies worldwide are victims of various cyberattacks, including ransomware, malware, insider threats, etc.
If an organization is attacked, it can be challenging for businesses and IT experts to regain control of their data. At the same time, proper countermeasures and contingency plans will allow you to resume normal operations with little disruption.
The key is to have a detailed data breach response strategy on hand so little to no time is wasted. With that in mind, here are steps to help you recover from a cyber attack.
- Identify the damage
Many businesses today don’t assess the extent of the damage caused by the cyberattack. They proceed with the recovery phase without assessing the threat in general. Therefore, you should first determine the extent of the data loss before continuing with anything else.
Furthermore, we suggest providing your employees with the necessary security awareness training, as many cyberattacks on businesses begin with phishing emails.
There is a growing segment around short-term training programs, such as boot camps, that allow people to gain fundamental knowledge regarding common cyber threats. As a company owner, you must encourage your employees to enroll in cyber security bootcamps online so they understand the fundamentals of internet-related threats and ways of keeping their data safe.
- Communicate the attack ASAP.
It is crucial to ensure a cyberattack is reported to the designated department as soon as possible. Therefore, it is essential to establish formal communication protocols before an attack to initiate countermeasures.
Also, communicating about the attack to other sections of your business will help put them on alert for a potential security threat. This way, you can save a part of your business without suffering company-wide data loss.
- Get your government involved.
Regardless of the size of your business, you should notify your local authorities as quickly as possible if you believe your company is vulnerable to a crucial data breach. They can assist you in finding the attacker before more crucial data is stolen or compromised. But, even if they cannot, you will have their backing by getting them involved.
Get your PR team on it and address the issue with a written announcement about the attack, informing your suppliers and clients of the incident. Additionally, it would be best if you created innovative and cutting-edge cyber security regulations to stop future occurrences of this kind.
- Make incremental backups of your company’s data.
Make sure to regularly perform a complete, encrypted backup of your data on each system and mobile device. Keeping backups of your data at different locations will help recover if there’s a data breach.
Furthermore, making backups will also help you retrieve data from a specific point, saving time, energy, and resources required to retrieve an entire streak of data. Incremental backups will also help create more restore points if you are using a company system.
Since most employees are also connected to one computer, incremental backups will help save or retrieve essential data that belongs to them.
- Install the Latest Security Patches
Once your system is attacked, it would be best to revert to a recent restoration point or initiate a recovery process that guarantees data recovery without compromising system integrity.
Also, ensure you update your system and install the latest security patches. You should also get in touch with a cyber security provider firm that offers a system outfitted with more secure and cutting-edge technology to safeguard your system with next-level security.
Furthermore, a cybersecurity network operator firm can assist you in integrating 3rd party security products and solutions.
- Expand your security measures.
If your company’s central server was attacked, anyone connected to it would also be affected. It would be best to get in touch with them as soon as possible to inform them about it so they can take the necessary measures to ensure their data is safe.
At the same time, raise the level of data protection you have. Ask your staff to create secure passwords and to update them frequently. If necessary, hold a training session to inform your staff on how to protect data and what they can do to stop future cyberattacks. Also, encourage them to use VPNs, firewalls, and two-factor authentication to access vital information to reduce the likelihood of future cyberattacks.
Furthermore, invest in cyber insurance. It is a service used for securing organizations and businesses.
- Put it to the Test
While antiviruses and firewalls sound great on paper, they fail when you put them to the test. One of the main reasons is redundancy. The online world evolves faster than we think, so putting your countermeasures to the test is a crucial step toward ensuring your data is safe.
Moreover, you won’t know which areas and features are helpful in case of a data breach or security threat. Your recovery plan needs to be flexible enough to respond to cyberattacks, as they can take various forms.
Finally, testing your security systems will also help you choose better options compared to your own. By adopting or incorporating those systems, you might have better security against internet threats you aren’t even aware of.
The Takeaway
Cyberattacks are becoming increasingly common, and despite your best efforts, you can be a victim. In response to this reality, it is crucial not to panic. Instead, organizations must implement a recovery strategy that minimizes the adverse effects and ensures proper data management and recovery.
Using the tips and tricks mentioned in this article, you can strengthen your systems and create a cyber-response plan designed to speed up your recovery process.
Moreover, ensure to test your plan periodically, add necessary modifications and updates, and educate your people about the various effects of cyberattacks and how to prevent them.
