If your company has suffered a cybersecurity breach, here’s how you can contain it in a few easy steps.

Data scandals are becoming one of the most significant digital age issues. Each scandal costs a company both in reputation and in monetary losses. Once damaged, only a rebrand can save a broken reputation. Managing it correctly could be the difference between going out of business or keeping those doors open if it happens to you.

Here’s what to do if your company suffers a data breach.

What if your Company Suffers a Cyber Attack?

If you don’t have suitable cybersecurity systems in place, you need to look closely at handling client data. Are you compliant? Do you have up-to-date antivirus software? Are your staff trained in GDPR and cybercrime tactics? If you have all of this in place, you can still be on the receiving end of a cyber-attack. The average consolidated cost of a data scandal can run as high as $3.92 million. The bigger the company, the harder it falls.

Here’s how you can move quickly to limit the damage done, should it happen to you.

Steps to Manage a Data Scandal

If your firm is the target of hackers, here’s how you can mitigate the damages.

Step 1 – Find a Specialist Lawyer

If you are at the center of a cyber-attack, you first want a lawyer who can advise you on what to do next. A specialist in the cybercrime field can efficiently manage your legal obligations and damage limitation. If you live in Australia, try this Sutherland Lawyers. They may be able to represent you and help you control the fallout.

Step 2 – Perform an Audit

Next, you need to identify what data has leaked and who it affects. Next, you need to work out the possible ways this could impact their lives; then, you need to reach out to those affected and tell them of the potential danger so that they can protect themselves. Performing an audit should clue you the depth of the issue^[1]. It also allows you to identify weak points in your cybersecurity systems so that you can better protect yourself next time.

Step 3 – Develop a Publicity Strategy

Once you know how big the problem is, you can create an effective publicity management strategy to help you mitigate the damage caused by public opinion. If you are honest and transparent from the outset, you will come out better in the end. Meet with your marketers and discuss the best strategies for admitting to the problem. The public wants to see you handle it.

Step 4 – Clean it up.

Last but by no means least: start cleaning up the damage. If you have insurance against this, you will be better off than those without. You should start as you mean to go on. Keep being honest and forthright. If anything else happens, deal with it promptly, and continue managing public perceptions while you fix things. The data scandal might not be your fault – but remember, that’s not how the public will see it.