Cyber Incident Response Tips for Small Businesses

In today’s volatile cyber landscape, even small businesses are not immune to disruptive cyberattacks. Ransomware, phishing, and data breaches increasingly target companies of all sizes, and the ability to respond effectively can mean the difference between recovery and ruin. Interestingly, a valuable resource developed for UK local governments offers practical lessons for the private sector: the Local Government Association’s “Cyber Incident Grab Bag.”

Though originally designed for public sector entities, this guide provides a concise, actionable framework that small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) can adapt to strengthen their cyber incident response capabilities and recovery planning.

Why Small Businesses Need a Cyber Incident Response Plan

The frequency of cyberattacks on SMBs is rising, but many still lack formal response plans. A structured cyber incident response plan helps minimize downtime, reduce data loss, and prevent reputational damage. Drawing from the UK’s experience, small businesses can take proactive steps to build resilience.

1. Prepare a Hardcopy Cyber Incident Response Kit

When systems go down, digital playbooks may become inaccessible. The Grab Bag emphasizes the importance of a printed cyber incident response plan with contact lists, escalation paths, and business-critical functions. SMBs should prepare physical copies of:

  • Key personnel and vendor contacts
  • System recovery checklists
  • Incident reporting and containment steps

Having this kit accessible ensures that response efforts continue even if digital infrastructure is compromised.

2. Map and Prioritize Critical Business Systems

The guide urges local governments to document their digital services. Similarly, SMBs should maintain an up-to-date inventory of:

  • Essential business systems (e.g., accounting, CRM, POS)
  • Data dependencies (e.g., customer records, invoices, backups)
  • Recovery time objectives (RTOs)

Clear system mapping enables swift triage during a cyber incident response.

3. Define Roles for Cyber Incident Management

During a cyber crisis, confusion is costly. The Grab Bag recommends pre-assigning roles like incident coordinator, communications lead, and IT recovery manager. For small businesses, even a basic role matrix can:

  • Speed up decision-making
  • Clarify who talks to customers or regulators
  • Avoid duplicated efforts

Defined roles make your cyber incident response plan more actionable and accountable.

4. Practice Cyber Incident Scenarios

UK councils are encouraged to run tabletop exercises simulating cyber incidents. SMBs can adopt this practice by rehearsing:

  • What happens if the main server is encrypted
  • How staff communicate during an outage
  • Who handles media, customers, or regulators

Simulating attacks reveals weaknesses and builds team confidence in cyber incident response procedures.

5. Coordinate External Support in Advance

The Grab Bag stresses relationships with national incident response bodies and IT providers. For SMBs, this translates to:

  • Knowing who to call (e.g., MSSPs, lawyers, insurers)
  • Ensuring vendor SLAs cover cyber incident response
  • Preparing backup communication channels (like a separate phone tree or alternate email system)

Establishing these contacts before an attack helps avoid costly delays during incident response.

6. Document and Review Each Cyber Incident

Post-incident reviews are vital. After any incident:

  • Record what happened and what actions were taken
  • Identify delays or failures in response
  • Update your cyber incident response plan accordingly

Continuous improvement ensures stronger outcomes in future incidents.

Final Thought: Be Ready, Not Reactive

Cyber resilience isn’t just a concern for governments or big corporations. The “Cyber Incident Grab Bag” serves as a powerful reminder that preparation matters. By borrowing and tailoring its core principles, small businesses can build cost-effective, practical cyber incident response capabilities. When a breach happens—and it likely will—your ability to restore operations quickly will depend not on your size, but on your readiness.