Anything that disrupts your regular routine can cause all manner of stress. Unfortunately, this stress makes it hard to think, and then things can often snowball and get worse. This process happens even when there is no direct consequence to the issue. What happens when you are hit with something devastating, like cybercrime?

Every business leader is supposed to install cyber security to protect your company's data from being stolen. However, cybersecurity isn't always going to be one-hundred percent effective. Every time a new security software is launched, there are people out there who task themselves with breaking through it.

It can be difficult to regroup and act when cybercrime hits, so read on to find out how you should cope with a cybersecurity issue.

Assess The Situation

The very first thing that you should do in the event of a cybersecurity breach is to find out exactly what is happening. Some cybercrime involves a two-step process of making it appear as if you are having issues and then striking when you start to try and recover your files.

Sometimes, the best thing you can do is wait for what is happening to end and then follow on from there.

Take notes and make a record of what happened, when it happened, how you found out about it, the actions, and steps you took and who took them.

Check The Damage

You will never know the true extent of a cyber-attack unless you take a look at the damage. Some of these attacks may present themselves as a few missing files when in fact the damage is so much worse. Sometimes, someone can follow on and make further attacks once the breach has occurred.

Try to get a full assessment of the damage done by the attack so that you can pass on the right information about what has happened. Again, the truth of what has happened may take a while to present itself, so try to go off all the information you have at present, and you may prevent further data losses.

Inform Those Around You

Once you have assessed the initial damage it is important to share the news with your employees and management team. The more people that know about it, the more likely it is that the cause of the issue will be identified. Furthermore, a data breach could affect your employees and clients outside of work, so it is important to prepare them properly. Your human resources team can debrief anyone distressed by the fall-out of cybercrime and your data protection officer can help with your obligations under GDPR.

Discover The Source of The Breach

Cybercrime is difficult to deal with. Consider bringing in specialist outside help. If you cannot or it is beyond your means then make sure knowledgeable members of your teams are deployed to look for the root cause of what happened.

As for your duties, the news as to why the attack occurred will leave you with a few extra responsibilities to perform. Some cyberattacks can occur because of outdated security systems or a mistake made by an employee. Whatever the cause, it is your responsibility to ensure that it never happens again.

Update Your Security Systems

You may feel foolish if you find out that your cybersecurity systems are outdated, but it happens more often than you might think. Technology is moving so fast that it is almost impossible to keep up. However, this is exactly the type of attitude that cybercriminals prey on. These individuals stay up to date with encryption technology, waiting to strike at anyone who hasn't made the necessary updates.

Therefore, you should update your cybersecurity systems immediately. A quick search should provide you with all of the information you need, and it will help ensure that you are prepared for another attack. Make sure that you look around to find the best cybersecurity to suit your capabilities. Also, it is always a good idea to back up your servers and your data. Backups will give you a place to start from if everything gets wiped or encrypted with ransomware. A small victory.

Educate Everyone Else

As a business leader, you are mainly responsible for maintaining the appropriate security protocols across the company. However, this does not mean that preventing cybercrime is your responsibility alone. As you have now learned, anyone can contribute to the cause of a cyberattack. Therefore, every employee in your building needs to be brought up to speed on current procedures.

This means informing your staff about the risks of data-sharing, asking them to withdraw their details from specific sites, and even preventing them from linking personal devices to the company network. Cybercrime can strike from anywhere, so ensure that your staff is being cautious as you move forward. It doesn't take a lot of time to implement, and you will notice the benefits immediately.

Learn From Your Mistakes

Everything in life happens for a reason, and one of those reasons might just be a colossal, unavoidable mistake. It is no good lamenting your actions after they have occurred. The best way to move forward is by acknowledging what went wrong and learning from your mistakes.

Sometimes, a key part of this learning process can come from admitting that you need someone else's help. Every generation has had a different relationship with technology, and you may need to reach out to the right people to get some assistance.

Acquire ISO 27001

ISO 27001 is an information security management system that can help you learn about any cybersecurity issues within your business. You may not be aware of some of the risks within your IT systems. Check out hightable.io to browse their ISO 27001 templates and get started. Achieving this status can show others that you understand the importance of cybersecurity and convince them to use your business. It helps you strengthen your business's data privacy as you can fix any issues and reassure your customers.

Conclusion

It is hard to know what to do in the event of a cyberattack, especially if you do not understand the process. That is why cybersecurity exists, and you should now be fully informed about how to prevent this type of attack in the future. Again, never be afraid to ask for help if you are unsure. That is why these professionals exist, after all.

Author: Stuart Barker | Director at High Table the ISO 27001 Company: https://hightable.io