Business Continuity: Building Resilience Against Cyber Attacks, Etc

It could just be another ordinary Wednesday. You are cruising through your day, ticking off tasks. Reschedule your meeting with the IT team about business continuity. You continue with your other important calls. Suddenly, BAM! A cyber-attack blindside you out of nowhere. 

Instant panic mode: activated. 

The truth is that these attacks are way more common than we’d like to think. And, sadly, the businesses that take the brunt of these assaults are not the large corporations. Instead, it crushes small and medium-sized businesses just like yours. These attacks will not just drain you out financially. It also leads to loss of data, marred business reputation and customer distrust. To make matters worse, these losses from cybersecurity can still linger even after many years.  

It does not have to be the end of it all

Attacks, however, don’t have to spell disaster. With a solid business continuity plan in place, what could’ve been a nightmare turns into just a major inconvenience.

Business Continuity

So, what should your business continuity plan cover? Let’s break it down. 

First things first, prevention is key.  

Even small and medium businesses need to invest in top-notch, multi-layer cybersecurity tools. This includes having strong passwords, multi-factor authentication (MFAs), firewalls, antivirus software and regular security checks, to name a few. More importantly, don’t forget to school your team about good cyber habits. Undergoing cybersecurity staff training makes your team the first line of defense. Knowing what to avoid, such as having a weak password and steering clear of sketchy links can make all the difference. 

Second, create a response protocol. 

This is your clear-cut strategy for when things go south. Write down procedures and protocols for how to respond. This should include who to contact and inform about the breach. These step-by-step instructions must be communicated to all levels of access inside your company.  

Third, back-ups. 

The bulk of the preparations in business continuity would come from keeping your data safely tucked away. This means an offsite location with very limited accessibility. This strategy can be a real lifesaver when disaster strikes, digital or physical. Even if your systems take a hit, you’ll still have a clean copy of your vital files to fall back on. 

Lastly, test it out! 

As they say, practice makes perfect! Periodically stress-test your recovery plan. This ensures that it can stand up to the real deal. Look for any and all weaknesses in the plan during the testing so you don’t end up like closing the barn door after the horse has already bolted. 

Need a hand crafting your plan?  

Sure, cyber-attacks and any other disasters can be scary. However, with a solid business continuity plan, you can rest easy knowing your business is ready to take the hit. Remember: if you do not prepare then you are preparing to fail. We’ve got your back. We’re here to help keep your business safe from the digital dangers lurking out there. 

Get in touch with us today!