Why Every Business Needs a Cybersecurity Response Plan

Why Every Business Needs a Cybersecurity Response Plan

Cybersecurity incidents can happen to any size organization. Whether you think you’re too small to attract the attention of cybercriminals or even if you’re a major corporation with big budgets to put cybersecurity measures in place, you need to be prepared to jump into action with a cybersecurity response plan.

Recently, Dick’s Sporting Goods, experienced a cybersecurity incident and there are lessons to be learned.

A big takeaway from the Dick’s Sporting Goods cybersecurity incident was they had a cybersecurity response plan in place and they were able to put it into action immediately.

“Immediately upon detecting the incident, the company activated its cybersecurity response plan and engaged with external cybersecurity experts to investigate, isolate, and contain the threat.”

This incident highlights some critical takeaways why every business, regardless of size, should have a cybersecurity response plan that is ready to execute at any time. Let’s explore why having a ready-to-deploy cybersecurity response plan is crucial and what you need to do to safeguard your business.

Cybersecurity Incidents Can Happen to Anyone

You might think, “I’m a small business, so hackers probably won’t bother with me.” Unfortunately, that’s far from the truth. Cyberattacks don’t discriminate based on company size. In fact, smaller companies are often viewed as easier targets since they may lack the same level of security infrastructure as larger enterprises.

No one is immune. Whether you’re a small business or a giant corporation, cybercriminals are constantly on the lookout for vulnerabilities they can exploit. Just like how Dick’s Sporting Goods faced an attack despite their resources, smaller companies are equally vulnerable—if not more so.

Don’t Wait Until After an Attack to Create a Plan

Imagine your office building is on fire. Would you want to start planning an evacuation route at that moment? Of course not. The same logic applies to a cybersecurity breach. The time to develop a response plan is not after an attack happens—it’s right now.

A cybersecurity response plan is your organization’s playbook for what to do in the event of a breach. Without one, your business risks devastating downtime, data loss, and potentially permanent reputational damage. Waiting until after an incident means scrambling to contain the damage. In a time of crisis, decisions aren’t as carefully evaluated. Panic and stress introduce confusion and analysis paralysis, leading to costly delays and mistakes.

Creating a cybersecurity response plan ahead of time ensures that everyone knows who to go to, who can execute the plan, what everyone’s role is, what to do, and how to limit the impact on your business.

External Experts: Your Best Friends in a Crisis

When a cybersecurity attack hits, reaction time is everything! Every minute you delay increases the chances of data loss and reputational damage. This is where external cybersecurity experts come into play.

Dick’s Sporting Goods were extremely well prepared by having an external cybersecurity partner they could immediately engage. Reacting to cybersecurity incidents requires rapidly scaling your workload to carefully and thoroughly address the situation. When your internal team is overwhelmed by the scale and complexity of an attack, external experts bring valuable insight, additional resources, and a fresh perspective. They know the latest trends in cybercrime and can implement proven solutions faster than a team that’s less experienced in handling high-stakes incidents.

Why do you need external experts?

1. They bring specialized knowledge and tools.
2. They can help manage the workload, allowing your team to focus on other critical areas.
3. They ensure you have access to the most up-to-date cybersecurity protocols and solutions.

Incorporating external resources into your cybersecurity response plan ensures you have agile and reliable support when you need it the most.

Bonus: Practical Lessons from a Real-World Scenario

In the case of Dick’s Sporting Goods, their response went beyond simply identifying the breach. They took proactive measures to isolate the attack, such as shutting down email systems and locking employees out of their accounts. This might sound extreme, but in the midst of a cybersecurity breach, these actions can help prevent further damage.

To regain access to internal systems, IT staff manually validated employees’ identities on camera—an extra layer of security that prevented attackers from continuing their access. It’s a reminder that sometimes, old-school verification methods (like in-person identity validation) can provide an effective stopgap in a crisis.

Cybersecurity Response Plan Questions Every Business Should Be Asking

1. Do we have a cybersecurity response plan? If not, you need one—yesterday.
2. When was the last time we reviewed and updated it?
   Cyber threats evolve constantly, your team members change, and your software, hardware and network changes over time. A plan from even six months ago may already be outdated. Has your cybersecurity response plan been updated to take into account any business or technology changes?
3. Who has access to the plan, and who has the authority to execute it?
   It’s crucial to identify clear lines of responsibility, ensuring everyone in your organization knows who to report suspicious activity to and that the right people know how and when to “pull the ripcord” of the cybersecurity response plan.
4. Do we have an external expert on standby?
   Cybersecurity incidents require rapid action, and having a trusted, agile external partner ensures that help is there in the critical moments when you need it most.

Don’t Be Caught Unprepared for a Cybersecurity Incident

Cybersecurity incidents can and do happen to businesses of all sizes, from major retailers to small startups, making it necessary to have a proactive and well-documented cybersecurity response plan. Not only does this help minimize damage when an attack occurs, but it also positions your business to recover faster, with less long-term impact.

If you haven’t already, start building your plan today. And if you do have one, review it regularly and make sure you have the right external partners in place to assist when needed. Cybersecurity isn’t just an IT issue—it’s a business continuity issue.

What To Do If You Don’t Have a Cybersecurity Response Plan

Need help developing or updating your cybersecurity response plan? Reach out to our team of experts today to ensure your business is fully protected against emerging threats!