6 Steps for Facing Any Security Incident

A cybersecurity incident can unfold at any time, often when you least expect it. Whether it’s a ransomware attack, a data breach or a case of unauthorized access, the first moments of response are critical in determining how much damage has been done and how quickly you recover. 

While these incidents are inevitable, chaos is not. The key to mitigating the impact of an attack lies in a well-structured, step-by-step response plan. Having a clear process in place helps teams avoid common mistakes, preserve critical forensic data and return to normal operations as efficiently as possible. 

With this in mind, here are six essential steps every organization should follow when facing a cybersecurity incident. 

Don't Panic

It’s natural to feel overwhelmed when faced with a security breach, but panicking only makes things worse. Rash decisions, such as impulsively shutting down systems or quickly deleting suspect files, can permanently erase vital forensic evidence and make recovery even more difficult. 

 

Instead of reacting on pure instinct, take a moment to assess the situation with a level head. Encourage employees and IT staff to follow a predefined incident response plan, ensuring that actions are deliberate, strategic and effective. 

 

Call your Incident Response Team ASAP 

If your organization has an Incident Response (IR) Retainer, activate it immediately. Having a cybersecurity team on standby ensures rapid expert intervention, preventing further damage and accelerating recovery. If you don’t have an IR retainer, reach out to a trusted incident response firm as soon as possible.  

 

Many organizations make the mistake of waiting too long, hoping the issue will resolve itself. Spoiler alert—it won’t, and involving external experts early in the process significantly improves the chances of a successful resolution. 

 

Preserve Evidence  

As I mentioned above, one of the costliest mistakes organizations make during the early stages of an incident is improper handling of affected systems, leading to lost forensic evidence.  

 

When an attack happens, it is essential to avoid making irreversible changes before IR specialists arrive. That means no wiping or reimaging compromised systems and no deleting suspicious emails or logs until the experts have a chance to see what’s happening. 

 

What you can and should be doing instead is isolating compromised systems from the network, disabling compromised users and preserving as many logs, emails and system records as possible to help trace the attack. 

 

Assess the Situation 

Before taking any action to mitigate an incident, you must understand it’s nature and the full extent of the potential fallout. A thorough initial assessment by a qualified incident response team will ensure that the next steps are proportionate and aid both investigators and decision-makers as they determine the next steps. 

 

Key questions to ask during this assessment will likely include:  

• What type of incident is this (ransomware, phishing, insider threat, data exfiltration etc.)? 

• Which systems, accounts or data have been affected? 

• Are the attackers still active in the environment? 

• How long has this been happening? 

 

Notify Stakeholders and Follow Compliance Rules 

After the environment is secure and the damage is contained, it’s time to inform key internal teams so that they can take appropriate action. This includes the IT and Security teams for continued containment and recovery, the Legal and Compliance teams to determine regulatory obligations, executive leadership to ensure business continuity and the PR & Communications teams to prepare a coordinated response if public disclosure is required. 

 

Remember, if customer data has been compromised, compliance teams must determine whether to notify regulators under laws like GDPR, CCPA or HIPAA. Failing to report a breach within legal timeframes can result in hefty fines and reputational damage. 

 

Learn and Improve 

Once the immediate crisis has passed, it’s essential to strengthen your defenses and minimize the risk for similar incidents in the future with a thorough post-incident review.  

 

These types of reviews typically include: 

• A full forensic report to determine the root causes of the incident. 

• A review of what worked and what didn’t in the response process. 

• Suggested updates to incident response plans and security policies. 

• Implementation plans for security patches, network segmentation and additional monitoring. 

As we often say in this business, it’s not “if” an attack will come—it’s when and how bad. By following these six critical steps, organizations can plan a calm, effective and strategic response to any security breach. 

Remember, preparation is always the best defense against cyber threats. If your organization hasn’t tested its incident response capabilities recently, now is a great time to do so.  

 

Learn more about Inversion6's Incident Response Retainer:  https://inversion6.com/services/incident-response