How to prepare for a cyber attack?

Introduction

Cyber threats are constantly increasing in scale, complexity, and frequency. From ransomware and phishing attacks to completely unique exploits, organizations face growing pressure to stay ahead of malicious actors. Cyber attacks can disrupt operations, damage reputation, and cause significant financial losses – especially for small and mid-sized businesses that often lack dedicated cybersecurity teams and resources.

That’s why cyber readiness is no longer optional – it’s a necessity. Preparing for a cyber attack isn’t just about buying or owning the right technology, it’s about creating a proactive strategy that combines prevention, response, and recovery.

This guide outlines a practical approach to developing a cybersecurity strategy and highlights three essential key activities to help you strengthen your organization’s cyber attack readiness.

The Strategic Level of Preparing for a Cyber Attack

A well-crafted cybersecurity strategy is the foundation of cyber readiness in preparing for a cyber attack. It ensures your organization doesn’t just react to threats, but actively anticipates and mitigates them.

1. Establish a Proactive Cybersecurity Framework
   Start with a recognized framework, such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework or ISO/IEC 27001, to guide your security efforts. These frameworks help assess risk, implement controls, and align practices with industry standards.
2. Define Security Policies and Compliance Requirements
   Document policies around acceptable use, data classification, password management, and incident response. If you operate in regulated industries or handle personal data, make sure your plan addresses compliance with laws like GDPR, HIPAA, or NIS2.
3. Create a Security Plan with Clear Roles and Responsibilities
   Everyone has a role to play in cybersecurity. Define responsibilities across IT, management, HR, and communications teams—especially for handling incidents and coordinating recovery.
4. Test and Update Regularly
   A static plan is a vulnerable plan. Schedule regular reviews, simulations, and threat assessments to ensure your strategy evolves alongside new threats and technologies. Any questions about security policy edge cases or implementation should be viewed as opportunities to refine and strengthen the next version of the policy.

Three Key Activities to Prepare for a Cyber Attack

Activity 1: Risk Assessment and Prevention Measures

Step 1 on preparing for a cyber attack starts with knowing what you’re defending.

• Document IT Assets and Business Processes
  Maintain an up-to-date inventory of hardware, software, user accounts, and data flows. Understand which systems are critical to your operations and which hold sensitive data.
• Identify Infrastructure Vulnerabilities
  Use vulnerability scanners, penetration testing, and configuration audits to uncover weak points. Prioritize based on risk and potential business impact.
• Implement Layered Security Controls
  Defend your systems with multiple security layers:
  • Firewalls to manage network traffic
  • Endpoint protection to secure devices
  • Encryption to protect data in transit and at rest
• Regular Software Updates and Patch Management
  Outdated software is a common entry point for attackers. Automate or tightly monitor patch management and maintain a strict update schedule for all systems.
• Access Control and Least Privilege Principles
  Limit access to sensitive data and systems based on roles. Ensure employees only have the permissions they need—and nothing more.

Activity 2: Employee Training and Security Awareness

Step 2 on preparing for a cyber attack is related your employees, who are the most important link in the cybersecurity chain – either the strongest or most exploitable.

• Educate on Phishing, Social Engineering, and Cyber Hygiene
  Regular training helps staff recognize suspicious emails, fake websites, and manipulation tactics. Cover basic hygiene like secure passwords, software updates, and safe browsing habits.
• Run Tabletop Exercises and Simulated Attacks
  Simulations help teams practice responding to cyber incidents in a low-stakes environment. They also reveal weaknesses in your plan and test decision-making under pressure. Tabletop exercises are a cost-effective way to take incident simulations beyond the purely technical and ensure that all departments are familiarized with the processes.
• Build a Security-First Culture
  Empower employees to report incidents without fear of blame. Make cybersecurity part of on-boarding and ongoing professional development. Leadership should model good practices, too.

Activity 3: Data Backup and Recovery Readiness

Step 3 on preparing for a cyber attack finishes with recovery readiness. Even with strong defenses, breaches can happen. Being able to recover quickly is crucial.

• Ensure Regular Data Backups and Secure Storage
  Backup critical data on a routine schedule according to the criticality and usability of the data and your business risks. Store backups offsite or in the cloud with encryption, and restrict access to backup environments.
• Develop a Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Plan
  Define how you’ll restore systems, communicate with stakeholders, and maintain operations after a cyber incident. Consider redundant systems as a fail-safe. Assign roles and identify critical dependencies.
• Test Backup Restoration Procedures
  Backups are only useful if they work when you need them. Run regular restoration tests to ensure data integrity and reduce recovery time during a real incident.