It’s not a question of if, but when…

50% of businesses report having experienced some form of cyber security breach or attack in the last 12 months. This percentage increases for medium-sized companies and again for larger businesses.*

No business is immune. With new attack methods and constantly changing technology, organisations must be well-prepared and ready to respond when a breach happens. Do you know what to do when your business is attacked? Are you confident in the processes you’ve put in place to deal with a breach?

What is an incident response simulation?

Fire drills are part and parcel of a working business. Practising the response to a fire keeps everyone safe should the worst happen. Why wouldn’t you treat a cyber-attack the same way?

Carrying out an incident response simulation is a drill or ‘practice’ exercise that mimics what would happen if you were to experience a cyber-attack and assesses the effectiveness of your cyber security incident response plan.

Just like a fire alert, if you do not know how to handle the situation when it happens, it can hugely increase the possibility of damage to the business and have far-reaching negative effects. Extended downtime, data loss, and significant financial and reputational damage are the expected outcomes of a breach that is improperly handled.

5 reasons to build a robust cyber-attack response plan:

1. Identify weaknesses: Simulating a cyber-attack and going through the prescribed actions and processes required by that situation, will help pinpoint any vulnerabilities in your current incident response plan. Where are the cracks? What stage of the process is under the most pressure?

2. Improve recovery and minimise loss: Responding swiftly and effectively to a cyber-attack can mean the difference between hours or weeks of downtime, or hundreds or thousands in lost revenue. Simulating different cyber-attack scenarios can give you the means to efficiently mitigate the consequences when it happens.

3. Achieve industry or compliance standards: Different industries are subject to various regulatory requirements. Your cyber security posture can often feed into these, and presenting a solid cyber incident response plan can provide a boost on the path to compliance.

4. Train employees: Understanding the specific roles employees play during a cyber-attack incident is crucial to the whole process. Cyber response plans hinge on confident execution, and training staff, across all levels, not just the senior team, will help shore up any gaps.

5. Test communication channels: Efficient communication is critical during any emergency. Performing cyber incident simulations will test the effectiveness of your internal and external communication channels, making sure the correct information is disseminated promptly and to the right people.

Bonus reason! Boost customer confidence: Consumer awareness of data and the transparency of organisations in handling it is at an all-time high and, data breaches in various sectors are never far from trending news stories. Reassuring customers and clients that you are prioritising the protection of their data is not something to be underestimated.

Preparing for the inevitable

Ultimately, the risk of cyber-attacks is only going to get higher, and developing a well-oiled incident response plan as part of your cyber security policy is a tangible way to ensure you can mitigate the fallout when the inevitable happens. Organisations must be proactive in their cybersecurity efforts to protect their assets, brand image, and reputation.

Working with an experienced and specialised cyber security services provider, like PureCyber, is a practical way to make sure your cyber security incident response plan covers all eventualities - both in theory and in practice. Investing in these simulations is not just about compliance or training, it's about protecting your business against the inevitable reality of cyber-attacks.

Get in touch

For more information on the dangers of not preparing for a cyber-attack and cyber incident response simulation services, please email info@purecyber.com

*Source: Home Office department of science, innovation and technology