Preparing your business for a cyber attack isn’t something to put off; it demands immediate, proactive planning.
The steps below form the backbone of a resilient cybersecurity posture and should be addressed before an incident strikes, not during the chaos that follows.
In the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats, your organization must take proper precautions. Failure to implement these measures leaves your business vulnerable to devastating attacks that can cripple operations, compromise sensitive information, and damage your reputation with customers.
Checklist: 15 steps to take when preparing for a cyber attack
Taking proactive steps to prevent a cyberattack is significantly more cost-effective than dealing with the aftermath. This cybersecurity checklist outlines key actions your business should take to strengthen its security posture:
1. Create a cyber incident response plan
An incident response plan is your organization’s roadmap during a crisis. This document should outline specific actions, responsibilities, and communication protocols to follow when a security breach occurs.
Your plan should include containment strategies, recovery procedures, and reporting requirements. Having this plan in place before an incident occurs dramatically reduces response time and potential damage, and it should be part of a broader disaster recovery plan.
Regular reviews and updates to this plan are essential as your business and the threat landscape evolve.
2. Identify crown-jewel data
Not all data carries the same value or risk. Crown-jewel data includes your most sensitive information, such as customer records, financial data, intellectual property, and personally identifiable information.
By identifying these critical assets, you can allocate security resources more effectively. This prioritization helps ensure that your most valuable information receives the highest level of protection.
💡 Consider implementing need-to-know access controls to limit exposure of this data, reducing the likelihood of unauthorized access.
3. Run employee phishing simulations
Employees often represent the greatest weakness in your security infrastructure. Phishing remains one of the most common attack vectors cybercriminals use to gain initial access to systems. According to the 2023 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report, 36% of all data breaches in the U.S. were caused by phishing attacks.
Regular phishing simulations help train staff to recognize suspicious emails, links, and attachments. These exercises should mimic real-world scenarios that your team might encounter.
Track results over time to measure improvement and identify areas requiring additional training. This practice builds a culture of security awareness throughout your organization.
4. Maintain backups with offline redundancy
Comprehensive backup strategies are fundamental to recovery from ransomware attacks. Maintain at least three copies of your data, with one stored offline and disconnected from your network.
⚠️ Test your backup restoration process regularly to verify that recovery is possible. Many organizations discover too late that their backups are incomplete or corrupted.
Implement automated backup solutions that run consistently without requiring manual intervention, ensuring continuous protection of new data.
5. Review insurance policies for coverage gaps
Traditional business insurance often doesn’t cover cyber incidents. Review your policies to understand what protection you currently have and where gaps exist.
Dedicated cyber insurance can help mitigate financial losses stemming from data breaches, ransomware attacks, and business interruption. Policy requirements often include minimum cybersecurity standards, such as alignment with the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF), to qualify for coverage or lower premiums.
Work with insurance providers who understand your industry’s specific risk landscape and compliance requirements. A provider familiar with NIST-aligned practices can help ensure your controls meet evolving underwriting guidelines.
6. Prioritize assets and backups
Not all systems require the same recovery timeline. Develop a tiered approach that identifies which functions are mission-critical and must be restored immediately versus those that can wait.
Document system dependencies to understand how various applications and services interconnect. This mapping prevents situations where you restore one system only to find it cannot function without another.
Create restoration sequence documents that guide IT teams during recovery, preventing confusion during high-stress situations.
7. Enforce MFA everywhere
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access, even when credentials are compromised. Implement this control across all systems, particularly those containing sensitive data.
Ensure MFA is required for remote access, cloud applications, and administrative functions. The added layer of verification dramatically reduces the likelihood of account compromise.
Consider using hardware tokens for highly privileged accounts rather than relying solely on SMS or email-based verification.
8. Educate employees continuously
Security awareness should be an ongoing program rather than a one-time event. Regularly prioritize training employees on cyber security, including current threats, safe computing practices, and your organization’s security policies.
📌Customize training based on job roles, as different positions face different risks. For example, finance departments need specialized training on wire transfer fraud, while IT staff require technical security updates.
Make security part of your corporate culture through regular communications, recognition of good security practices, and clear reporting procedures for suspicious activities.
9. Document response protocol
When a security incident occurs, having clear procedures helps ensure consistent, effective responses. Document who should be notified, what immediate actions should be taken, and how to preserve evidence.
Include contact information for your internal response team, external specialists, and legal team. Consider creating checklists that can be followed even under stressful conditions.
Outline communication templates for various scenarios to ensure accurate, timely messaging to stakeholders during incidents.
10. Test your plan (simulate, iterate)
The only way to verify your response plan’s effectiveness is through realistic testing. Conduct tabletop exercises where teams walk through their response to simulated incidents.
Analyze the results to identify gaps or inefficiencies in your plan. Update procedures based on these findings to continuously improve your response capabilities.
Include executives in these exercises to ensure leadership understands their roles during security events and supports the necessary resources for cybersecurity initiatives.
11. Keep vendor contact info handy
Third-party vendors play critical roles during incident response. Maintain updated contact information for your IT service providers, cybersecurity specialists, and other technical partners.
Establish response time expectations with these vendors before an incident occurs. Understanding their availability and capabilities helps set realistic recovery timeframes.
Consider retaining our specialized incident response firm that can provide immediate support during major security events, particularly if your internal resources are limited.
12. Assign incident leads in advance
Designating specific individuals to lead different aspects of your incident response prevents confusion and delays during a crisis. Assign roles for technical response, communications, legal considerations, and business continuity.
Ensure these leads have received appropriate training for their responsibilities and understand the authority they’ll have during an incident. Clear decision-making chains are essential during high-pressure situations.
⚖️ Identify backup personnel for each role to ensure coverage during vacations, illnesses, or staff changes.
13. Know your legal obligations
Data breach notification requirements vary by location, industry, and the type of information compromised. Understand your legal obligations regarding reporting timeframes and notification procedures.
Establish relationships with legal experts. At CMIT Solutions, we specialize in cybersecurity regulations and provide invaluable guidance during incidents involving regulated data or potential compliance issues.
Create templates for required notifications that can be quickly customized during an actual incident, saving critical time during response efforts.
14. Secure offsite recovery options
Having alternative facilities or cloud-based recovery options ensures business continuity even if your primary location is compromised. Identify these resources before they’re needed.
Document the procedures for activating these recovery options, including necessary credentials and configuration details. Practice failover to these environments periodically.
Consider geographic diversity when selecting recovery locations to protect against regional disruptions that might affect both primary and backup sites.
15. Review quarterly with a trusted IT partner
✔️Technology and threats evolve rapidly, making regular reviews of your security posture essential. Working with an experienced IT partner like CMIT Solutions provides a valuable external perspective on your protections.
Quarterly reviews help identify new vulnerabilities, evaluate emerging risks, and adapt your security strategy accordingly. This ongoing process ensures your defenses remain effective against current threats.
Use these reviews to validate that previous security recommendations have been properly implemented and are functioning as intended.
Want to know if your business is truly protected? Download our free cyber security checklist and uncover 16 essential ways to defend against cyberattacks: Get the checklist now by filling in the form below!
