What To Do When Disaster Strikes: Recovering From Malicious Attacks

As business owners, we do everything we can to keep our businesses secure. We invest in security tools, train our teams to spot scams and stay alert to threats.

But here’s the uncomfortable truth: No system is ever completely safe from attack. 

Because cyber security is a constant balancing act. If you locked down everything so tightly that nobody could ever break in, it would also be nearly impossible for you to use your own systems. 

At the end of the day, your business needs to function. You and your team need to be able to send emails, access files, and collaborate with customers without jumping through endless tiring security hoops. 

Cyber criminals are smart, and their tactics are constantly evolving. No matter how careful you are, they will always look for new ways to break in. And sometimes, despite your best efforts, they’ll succeed.  

This is why cyber security isn’t just about keeping attackers out - it’s about having a plan for what happens if they get in. If your business gets attacked, the speed and effectiveness of your response can mean the difference between a minor inconvenience and a full-blown disaster.  

Imagine this: You get to the office and turn on your computer. You’re ready to dive into work, then you see this message: “Your data has been encrypted. Pay $50,000 in Bitcoin to restore access.”

Everything is locked down. You can’t process orders, respond to customers, or access your files. Your team is stuck, unsure what to do. Panic sets in.

Many business owners don’t have the answers to these questions. So, when disaster strikes, they waste precious time scrambling to figure it out. That’s why having a recovery plan in place is so important. It gives you clear steps to follow, so you can act quickly and minimize damage.  

Think of cyber security like fire prevention. Your office has fire extinguishers and smoke alarms, right? And you no doubt have a fire escape plan, so everyone knows what to do in an emergency. A cyber security recovery plan works the same way: It’s your emergency playbook for getting back on your feet as fast as possible.

A strong recovery plan covers everything you need to respond effectively to cyber attacks. It helps you understand which systems are critical, where your business’s weak spots are, and what steps you should take if an attack happens.

Here’s what your recovery plan should include:

Some businesses assume they’ll just figure it out if the time comes… but recovery without a plan is messy, slow, and expensive. 

A cyber attack can cost a small business thousands, not just in lost revenue, but also in legal fees, fines, and reputation damage. 

If your systems are down for days, customers may go elsewhere and never return. If their data is exposed, they may lose trust in your business altogether. And if you’re found to have mishandled sensitive information, you could face legal consequences.  

The good news is that businesses that prepare for attacks recover much faster, and often with minimal damage.

The first step in cyber security isn’t buying expensive software… 
it’s understanding where your business is vulnerable.

Cyber criminals don’t just target big companies. In fact, SMBs are often easier targets, because they tend to have weaker security.

The question to ask yourself is: What would a cyber criminal want from my business?

For many, the answer is data – customer information, financial records, or intellectual property. Others may want to disrupt your operations and demand a ransom. 

Even if you don’t think your business would offer anything valuable, attackers may try to use your systems as a stepping stone to reach bigger targets.  

Once you understand what’s at risk, you can focus on protecting it.

Most cyber attacks start with human error.

One of the biggest threats is phishing – fraudulent emails that trick employees into clicking dangerous links or entering their passwords on fake websites. These emails can look like invoices, messages from colleagues, or alerts from service providers, making them easy to fall for. 

Then there’s ransomware, which locks up your files and demands payment to unlock them. If you don’t have backups, this kind of attack can be devastating to your business.  

Insider threats are also a risk. A single weak password, a lost laptop, or an ex-employee who still has access to your systems can all put your business in danger. 

And it’s not just data breaches you need to worry about. Outdated software, poorly secured Wi-Fi networks, and unpatched systems can all be exploited by cyber criminals. 

The longer it takes to respond to an attack, the worse the damage – financially, operationally, and to your reputation.

A clear incident response plan outlines exactly what to do, who is responsible, and how to recover quickly. Without one, confusion takes over, time is wasted, and mistakes can make things worse.  

Here are the five key phases of incident response:  

The faster you can detect an attack the sooner you can stop it – but cyber threats aren’t always obvious. Look out for unusual system activity, fake emails, slow performance, or unauthorized login attempts.  

If you suspect an attack, gather as much information as possible on which systems have been affected, when the issue started, and whether any data has been stolen. A structured incident reporting process helps your team act quickly.  

After containing the attack, you need to remove the threat completely and begin restoring systems. This might involve running security scans, restoring backups, and fixing exploited vulnerabilities like outdated software or weak passwords.  

If customer or financial data has been compromised, legal and regulatory requirements may apply. You may need to report breaches to authorities or notify affected customers.

Once the crisis is over, review what happened. What worked well? What didn’t? Where were the gaps?

Use the experience to update your security policies, improve employee training, and strengthen your backup strategy. Cyber threats are always evolving, so your defenses should too.

By regularly testing and refining your incident response plan, you’ll make sure your business is ready to act quickly and recover with minimal damage if the worst happens. 

Recovering from a cyber attack isn’t just about damage control, it’s about how soon you can get back to business as usual. The difference between a minor setback and a disaster often comes down to how well you prepared.  

If a flood destroyed your office, you’d have insurance, backup locations, and an action plan. Planning for cyber attacks should be no different. The goal isn’t just to clean up the mess – it’s to restore operations securely, minimize disruption, and prevent future attacks.

The first step is identifying what needs to be restored first. Losing access to emails for a few hours is frustrating. But losing customer records, payment processing, or order fulfilment could be catastrophic. A business impact analysis helps you prioritize the most critical systems.

Having a strong backup strategy is key. Make sure backups are secure, tested regularly, and stored in multiple locations (in the cloud and offline) to ensure a smoother recovery. Immutable backups, which can’t be altered or deleted by ransomware, offer the best protection.

If you don’t have backups, you may face a difficult decision: Pay a ransom or lose your data. But it’s important to note that paying the ransom doesn’t guarantee you’ll get your files back – and you may be targeted again. Once your systems are restored, security patches must be applied to prevent another breach.