You can take every precaution in the book, but sometimes it still isn’t enough. Hundreds of businesses get targeted every year by hackers looking to make a profit, make a statement and sometimes even a combination of both. They might not even want your information; they may just want to prevent you from having your resources again. Even with security precautions in place, the moment you realize you’ve been hacked is one that can send you (and your coworkers and employees) into a frenzy. Here’s what you should do.
What Happened?
You can’t solve the problem unless you realize what the issue is. Which data is stolen or corrupted? Who else is affected? It may require a third-party security consultant, but having all the details can mean fixing the problem or problems a much smoother process. Contacting the crime units of the appropriate scale should be one of the first things you do.
Stay Plugged In
Unplugging your computer and disconnecting from any other networks can actually erase malware or other bugs that hackers may have installed to glean data from your systems. This may sound like a good thing, but it may prevent you from knowing who hacked you. If you have a security solution, it should be able to determine when and if something shows up that shouldn’t.
Close the Hole
If the hole that the hackers got through is still open, get it closed. Getting professional security consultants on board to give your entire system a thorough look will let you know how vulnerable you are.
Forensics
They won’t dust for prints, but calling in people who deal with computer forensics can really push an investigation forward. Most government sanctioned crime units have a cyber division, but you can go with private investigators as well. If nothing else, you’ll need to let the police know before you reach out to your insurance.
The Legal Team
If you don’t already have a lawyer (or several) on board to help out with cyber issues, you’ll want to find one to help you navigate the waters in the near future.
Get Back Up and Running
Having a good backup solution can not only help prevent issues with hacking, it can also get your business back up and running sooner. If any valuable data goes missing, call your backup provider immediately to keep your business from being crippled for too long. A good cloud backup provider will keep you running when you really need it.