How To Respond If Your Company Has Suffered A Data Breach

According to The Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2024, almost half of UK businesses (50%) and around a third of charities (32%) report having experienced a cyber-security breach in the last 12 months.

Furthermore, the single most disruptive incident costs firms an average of £1,205, rising to around £10,830 for medium and large companies. When sensitive data is exposed, acting quickly and methodically can reduce damage, restore confidence and ensure legal compliance.

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As soon as you suspect a breach, contain the incident to stop further data loss. Disconnect affected devices or segments from your network without powering them down, so logs and evidence remain intact. Alert your IT or security team immediately, and begin preserving all relevant system records.

Quick containment limits the scope of the incident and provides forensic specialists with the information they need to identify the cause.

Internally, senior management and your legal team must know at once. Their involvement ensures that decisions about public communication, customer notification and regulatory reporting are coordinated.

Under GDPR, you have a legal duty to notify the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) within 72 hours if personal data has been compromised. Beyond regulators, you should also inform affected customers or partners without undue delay, explaining what information was exposed and what steps you are taking to protect them.

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Containment and investigation often happen in parallel. Once isolated, engage a reputable digital-forensics provider to analyse logs, trace the attacker’s path and identify vulnerabilities. Their expertise helps you to determine whether the breach stemmed from phishing, malware, weak passwords or another vector.

As the investigation unfolds, apply temporary fixes, such as patching software, resetting credentials and tightening firewall rules, to prevent repeated attacks.

GDPR sets strict requirements for handling personal data breaches. If there is a risk to individuals’ rights or freedoms, you must report the incident to the ICO within 72 hours, describing the nature of the breach, categories of data involved, likely consequences and remedial actions taken. Failure to comply can lead to fines of up to €20 million or 4% of global turnover. You may also need to notify data subjects directly if the breach poses a high risk to their privacy.

After remediation, review and update your security policies. Experts say that you should engage with regular staff training on phishing awareness and strong-password practices reduces human error. Implement multi-factor authentication, network segmentation and up-to-date antivirus software.

Speak to professionals to schedule routine vulnerability scans and so penetration testing companies can address weaknesses before they are exploited. Finally, ensure that all critical systems are backed up securely offsite, allowing rapid restoration if an incident occurs again.

By following these steps, containing the breach, informing the right parties, investigating thoroughly, meeting legal duties and strengthening defences, you not only limit immediate harm but also build greater resilience against future cyber threats.

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