It is important to consider that no company is immune to the effects of cybercrime. Some of the world’s biggest organizations have been hacked with the loss of sensitive personal information, financial costs, and damage to corporate reputation and brand loyalty. As the years advance, there is a growing tech war between the cybercriminals and the security systems set up to combat the effects of cybercrime. IT security providers must endeavor to stay one step ahead of the cyber criminals and must release regular updates and patches to their software to ensure that the most recent risks and viruses can be protected against. In this article, three of the key steps that need to be taken following an act of cybercrime will be explained in detail.
Assess the level of intrusion
When a cyber-attack has occurred, the first step is to assess the level and severity of the crime. Key pieces of information include ascertaining how many computers or smart devices have been affected. If a password has been stolen or an email containing malicious software has been installed onto a company network, the effects can be devastating and can spread quickly throughout the whole network. It is vital to quarantine the infected devices. In the case of a cyber-attack that has the potential to spread throughout IT infrastructure, consider shutting down the network to minimize the spread. However, this should only be done if there is a definite threat of the spread of the intrusion, as it can have severe reputational effects on a business. If millions of customers use your network, shutting it down completely will result in severe reputational damage.
Contact your cybercrime insurance provider
In 2022, it is imperative that organizations, regardless of their size, take out comprehensive cyber insurance from specialist providers such as kbdinsurance.com. If your company has experienced a cybercrime, it must be reported to the insurers at the earliest opportunity. For example, if there has been any financial loss, damage to IT equipment, or the potential for legal action to arise because of the attack, the insurance company must be given the full facts. Record key information in the report, including the time of the attack, the affected infrastructure, and the nature of the attack itself.
Change all passwords
By fully understanding the level of intrusion and the current level of loss or damage to IT systems, you will have a clear picture of the extent of the attack. If sensitive files or information have been stolen or corrupted, it is time to consider changing any network passwords or passwords that are used repeatedly across a network. If the cybercriminal has gained these passwords, your network and IT infrastructure will still be exposed and under threat after the malicious software has been cleared. It is also best practice to send out an email to all employees informing them of the cyber-attack and requiring them to change all passwords that they use on their company computers or to access the organization’s network.