When a cyberattack strikes, every second counts. Whether it’s ransomware locking down your files or a phishing email that led to compromised credentials, small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) can suffer serious consequences, from data loss and financial penalties to reputational damage.

Unfortunately, many businesses don’t realize they need an incident response plan until they’re already in crisis mode.

At Cyberix, we believe preparation is the best defense. This guide walks you through the essential steps to take during and after a cyberattack, so your business can respond quickly, contain the damage, and recover effectively.

What Is an Incident Response Plan?

An incident response plan is a structured approach for detecting, managing, and recovering from cybersecurity events. It helps ensure your team knows what to do before panic sets in, minimizing confusion and downtime.

It typically includes:

• Roles and responsibilities
• RCommunication protocols
• RContainment and eradication procedures
• RRecovery and post-incident analysis

Even a simple, well-communicated plan can significantly improve your odds of bouncing back from an attack.

Step 1: Identify the Incident

The first step is recognizing that an incident has occurred. Some signs to watch for:

• Unusual login attempts or access from unfamiliar IPs
• Locked or encrypted files (ransomware)
• System slowdowns or software behaving strangely
• Alerts from your antivirus or monitoring tools
• Suspicious emails or user reports

If your business handles classified data, quick identification is even more critical breaches can
trigger federal reporting obligations and contractual consequences.

Step 2: Contain the Threat

Once you detect an issue, focus on limiting its spread.

What you should do:

• Disconnect affected devices from the network immediately (Wi-Fi, Ethernet, VPN).
• Disable compromised accounts or change credentials.
• Preserve evidence and avoid wiping systems until you can understand what happened.
• Isolate backups to ensure they aren’t infected.

If you’re unsure what the attack entails, contain broadly first and refine later.

Step 3: Notify the Right People

Communication is key. Knowing who to contact and when can prevent further damage.

Your internal chain of communication should include:

• IT/security team or managed service provider
• Business leadership
• Legal or compliance contact (especially if you handle regulated or SBU data)

External notifications may be required if:

• Customer or client data is compromised
• You’re in a regulated industry (e.g., HIPAA, CMMC, IRS Publication 4812)
• The breach involves SBU data or CUI (Controlled Unclassified Information)

Notifying authorities or clients late or not at all can turn a manageable incident into a legal disaster.

Step 4: Eradicate the Threat

Once the situation is under control and you’ve captured the necessary data for investigation, it’s
time to eliminate the threat from your systems.

This might include:

• Running antivirus/malware scans
• Removing unauthorized access points
• Updating security patches
• Restoring systems from clean backups

Avoid restoring from backup too early if the root cause isn’t addressed, the issue may resurface.

Step 5: Recover and Resume Operations

After the threat is eradicated, your goal is to return to normal operations securely.

Recovery may involve:

• Reimaging compromised devices
• Resetting passwords and credentials
• Reconnecting to the network in a staged approach
• Monitoring closely for signs of reinfection

If your business manages SBU data, part of the recovery may include validating that no
sensitive information was exfiltrated. This is critical when responding to ransomware or other
data theft attacks.

Step 6: Learn from the Incident

Every cyber incident is an opportunity to improve your defenses. Conduct a post-incident review that answers:

• How did the attack happen?
• What was the impact?
• How well did your team respond?
• What changes are needed to prevent a recurrence?

Update your incident response plan, security controls, and employee training based on what you learn. Consider implementing
least access principles and Zero Trust architecture to limit the spread of future attacks.

How Cyberix Can Help

Cyberix provides small businesses with the tools, expertise, and guidance needed to respond to cyber threats with confidence. Our services include:

• Customized incident response planning and tabletop exercises
• Real-time breach support and threat containment
• Security awareness training to reduce human error
• Technical guidance for compliance with frameworks like IRS 4812, CMMC, and NIST

Whether you’re recovering from an incident or preparing your team before one happens, Cyberix is here to help you build a resilient, secure future. Contact us today.