5critical questions you need to consider when managing cyber attacks

· Having access to the right skills and experience during a cyber attack is critical to managing it effectively

· Detailed policies and procedures can help prevent attacks, much like aligning with suppliers that meet your security requirements

· Including a cyber incident response plan in your business continuity plan can help you prepare for and manage attacks confidently

A cyber attack is a highly stressful event for any business. Knowing how to manage it and continue to identify threats can be very challenging. But with some careful preparation, you can keep attacks under control and make decisions with confidence.

Here are five questions you need to consider when preparing for cyber attacks.‍
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1. Do you have the right expertise to guide you?

Managing cyber attacks requires a unique set of skills, from a well-developed understanding of threats and vulnerabilities to in-depth knowledge of technologies and security systems, and experience dealing with attacks.

Most businesses don’t have these expertise in-house, and bringing someone onboard can mean significant investment – the average salary for an IT security specialist is around $150K.

Engaging an outside security expert such as Byte can be a lot more cost-effective, and you’ll have access to a whole team’s wealth of knowledge.

Having someone with the right skills and knowledge help you put the right plans, policies and technology in place – and manage your cyber security - is critical to minimising the risk and impact of an attack.
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2. Do you have the right governance in place?

Make sure you have policies, procedures and standards in place for managing security – from handling data and new systems acquisition to working with vendors and third party suppliers.

Having a checklist of your security requirements can help make sure you only work with suppliers that have the right measures in place and will keep your information and systems secure.
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3. Is your back-up strategy up to scratch?

Back-up is non-negotiable for any business. But it needs to be reliable, working properly and based on a carefully considered strategy.

It needs to consider:

o What’s being backed up and where from (ie: are you backing up info from your staff’s mobile devices?)

o How often it runs

o Who is responsible for it

o What data is most essential, in case the unexpected happens

o Time for regular testing.
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4. Do you have a business continuity plan?

Whether it’s a natural disaster or economic crisis, a data leak or a simple power outage – unexpected events can derail your operations. You need to be prepared, so that you can continue to operate with minimal disruption.

That’s where a business continuity plan (BCP) comes into play. It’s a set of actions your business needs to take in case the unexpected happens.

For instance, if there’s a power outage, how will you continue to serve your customers? Who do you need to contact? What steps do you need to take to resolve the issue and who is responsible for each?

Make sure you include a cyber security incident plan in your BCP to make sure you have a plan for how to respond to cyber attacks and data leaks.

The Australian Government has a handy guide to developing a BCP that might help you get started.
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5. Does everyone in the business know and understand the plan?

Once you have a solid plan in place, it’s important to make sure that your staff are familiar with it and understand how to implement it. It’s a good idea to hold a lunch and learn or information session, where staff can ask questions and discuss any concerns. It may even uncover scenarios that were missed in the initial plan.

At Byte, we work with businesses of all sizes to help them prepare for cyber attacks – and other unexpected events that may affect their IT systems. Our Security Operations Centre (SOC) brings together our deep technical knowledge and business consulting capabilities to plan, proactively monitor, detect and manage your cyber threats.

Tune in to our webinar to learn more about our SOC – and how it can help you stop cyber attacks before they

Start today with our free security audit that identifies where your gaps are and how you can better protect your business. Book your free audit now.