How to Minimise the Impact of a Cyber-attack
In our digital age, cyber–attacks dominate news headlines. Sensitive information is constantly being compromised, and yet, companies continue to overlook preventative measures.
The reality
A cyber-attack is an assault launched by a cybercriminal against a computer network, often to expose, steal, or destroy sensitive data.
Around 300,000 cybercrimes are committed in Australia each year, and The Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) reported a 26 per cent increase in data breaches in the second half of 2022. This increase in incidents can largely be traced back to security vulnerabilities and simple accidents – factors which are often preventable.
All companies are at risk; even the best security measures can be taken down by a cybercriminal. Thankfully, you can take preventative measures to protect your company and minimise impact if an incident does happen.
Preparation is key
Every business should have a reputation management plan. Work with a trusted communications agency to put a company-wide reputation management plan in place that covers a cyber-attack scenario and review the plan regularly to ensure it is up to date.
According to a survey conducted by Sophos, 66 per cent of organisations around the world were affected by a ransomware attack in 2021. This makes security training imperative to any company. Sometimes, a particularly deceiving phishing email is all it takes to trigger a large-scale data breach.
Turn your attention to multi-factor authentication, firewalls, VPNs, data encryption, and traffic monitoring to strengthen your company’s security. Keep an eye on the latest alerts and advisories from the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) and report any suspicious activity.
If a cyber-attack does happen…
First and foremost, contain the breach as soon as possible to prevent it going from bad to worse.
Immediately engage with your cyber security team, legal team, and communications agency. Fast and strategic decision making needs to occur during this time, so having a team of advisors ready is crucial.
Data breaches have the potential to knock the trust of stakeholders, putting your company at risk. This is where your PR agency steps in with a tailored response plan to minimise the impact on your brand’s reputation through media monitoring, media training, 24-hour support, and more.
Communication is key; over-communicating with your stakeholders is your main priority during this time. Provide regular updates on the situation and be transparent and empathetic in your communications.
Over the years, Arize has helped companies through stressful cyber-attacks and data breaches. It is our role to take the communications to all stakeholders and give your executive team the space to lock down their business and make the crucial decisions required. We offer strategic reputation management and around the clock support.
Don’t wait until a breach happens: be prepared. Get in touch with us and let’s talk.
