In today’s digital world, even small businesses face cybersecurity threats. Having a simple Incident Response Plan (IRP) ensures that your business can quickly address security issues without scrambling in a crisis.

Here is a straightforward guide for small businesses that likely don’t have a formal IRP yet:

1. Identify and Report

Goal: Make sure all employees know how to recognize and report an incident.

What to Do: Create a list of common red flags (like unexpected emails with links or login prompts) and an uncomplicated way for employees to report them (e.g., emailing a designated address or calling a specific person).

2. Assess and Prioritize

Goal: Evaluate the severity of the incident to respond effectively.

What to Do: Have someone responsible for security (or management) assess whether the incident disrupts business operations, involves sensitive data, or requires immediate attention.

3. Contain and Control

Goal: Prevent the issue from spreading.

What to Do: Disconnect any compromised devices from the network and change passwords if necessary. If you don’t have in-house IT, contact an external IT provider.

4. Communicate with Key Stakeholders

Goal: Notify necessary people and protect your reputation.

What to Do: Inform employees, especially those directly affected. If customer data is involved, prepare a brief message explaining what you’re doing to resolve the issue.

5. Recovery and Restore

Goal: Resume normal operations quickly and safely.

What to Do: After containing the incident, ensure any impacted systems are safe to use again. Recover from backups if needed.

6. Review and Learn

Goal: Improve future responses.

What to Do: After resolving the issue, note what happened and discuss what worked and what didn’t. Update your procedures accordingly.

Final Tip: Test your IRP at least twice a year. Even a quick “what would we do if…” conversation can improve your team’s readiness.

By following this plan, you’ll be better prepared to protect your business, data, and customers.