Mittelstand company hacked: What you should do now

If your medium-sized company has been hacked, it can be a shock. A cyber attack can jeopardize your company data and customer information and have serious consequences. It's important to act quickly to limit damage and prevent future attacks.

In this article, you'll learn how to react to a cyber attack and what steps you should take to ensure your organization's data security and IT security. We give you specific recommendations for action to limit the damage and prevent future cyber attacks.

Read on to find out what you should do if your medium-sized company has been hacked.

Immediate action following a cyber attack

If your medium-sized company has been hacked, you should act quickly to limit the damage and prevent future attacks. Here are a few immediate steps you should take:

Close security gaps

Identify and fix any security gaps in your system. Update your security software and any other programs that may be affected by the attack. Strengthen your passwords and use two-factor authentication to protect access to sensitive data.

Block the attacker

Block the attacker by restricting access to your system and data. Change any passwords and lock any accounts that could be affected by the attack. Inform your IT security officer or IT department so that they can take further appropriate action.

Create a backup

Be sure to back up your data before you begin the restore process. If you don't have a backup, it is very likely that you will lose all data and information.

Inform your employees

Notify your employees of the attack immediately so they know what happened and what is expected of them. Train your employees on cybercrime to prevent future attacks.

Set protective measures

Establish protective measures immediately. Verify permissions and access to data and information in your organization. Make sure that all employees only have access to the data and information they need.

‍1. Close security gaps

Identify and fix any security gaps

2nd Block the attacker

Change any passwords and lock any accounts that could be affected by the attack.

3rd Create a backup

Be sure to back up your data before you restore it.

4th Inform your employees

Immediate information to your employees about the attack. Train your employees about cybercrime.

5th Set protective measures

Verify permissions and access to data and information in your organization.
‍

By taking these immediate measures, you can limit the damage and prevent future attacks. Don't waste time, take immediate action to ensure the security of your company data.

Inform internal and external stakeholders

After your company has been hacked, it is crucial to immediately inform your employees, customers, and business partners of the incident. Quick and transparent communication can help maintain trust in your company and limit the damage.

Make sure you inform all relevant stakeholders and give them clear instructions on how to act when needed. Explain what steps you've already taken to stop the attack and what steps you'll take next.

Avoid withholding or glossing over information. Be transparent and honest about the impact of the cyber attack and what steps you're taking to solve the problem.

Prepare a message to stakeholders

Create a message to your employees, customers and business partners explaining the incident and giving specific recommendations for action. Please note the following points:

• Explain what happened and which data is affected.
• Give clear instructions on how those affected should behave.
• Offer support, e.g. in the form of training or advice.
• Explain what steps you're taking to prevent future attacks.

Make sure your message is clear and understandable and doesn't include technical details that are difficult for recipients to understand.

Monitor stakeholder responses

Once you've sent out your message, monitor the reactions of your employees, customers, and business partners. Make sure that you respond quickly and competently to questions and concerns and that you offer further assistance to those affected if necessary.

If the hack is a major incident, it may be useful to set up a hotline or a special email address that those affected can contact.

Remember that fast and transparent communication can help maintain trust in your company and limit the damage.

Securing and analyzing affected systems

To better understand the hack and identify future vulnerabilities, you must secure and thoroughly analyze the affected systems. Here are a few steps you should take:

1. Isolate the infected systems. Disconnect affected computers and servers from the network immediately to prevent the virus or malicious code from spreading to other systems.
2. Capture all information about the attack Determine which data was stolen or damaged and which vulnerabilities the attacker exploited. Write down all relevant information so that you can better understand the incident later.
3. Install security updates and patches. Check that all systems are up to date and update outdated software. Close existing security gaps and reduce the risk of further attacks.
4. Scan affected systems for viruses and malware. Perform thorough scans to ensure that all malicious programs have been removed. Use reliable anti-virus software to ensure that all threats are detected and removed.

More recommendations for securing your IT infrastructure

To prevent further attacks, you should take the following steps:

• Use strong passwords and update them regularly. Use complex passwords and ask your employees to change them regularly. Avoid simple passwords such as “123456” or “password.”
• Implement a firewall. A firewall can block unauthorized access to your network and protect your systems. Make sure your firewall is up to date and updated regularly.
• Make regular backups. Back up your data regularly and store it somewhere safe. This allows you to quickly recover and minimize losses in the event of an attack.
• Implement a secure access system Limit access to sensitive data and systems to authorized employees Use two-factor authentication to improve security.

Securing and analyzing the affected systems is only part of the comprehensive measures you should take to improve your IT security and prevent future attacks. For more recommendations to strengthen your IT security, see the following sections.

Step 5: Collaborate with IT security experts

In order to optimally protect your company data, it can be useful to work with external IT security experts. These experts have extensive IT security knowledge and experience and can help you manage the cyber attack and implement appropriate prevention measures.

When choosing a suitable IT security partner, you should make sure that they have experience in your industry and are able to meet your individual needs. A professional IT security service provider such as MDSYSTEC can help you optimize your IT security and prevent future attacks.

Benefits of working with IT security experts

• Experience and know-how in the area of IT security
• Individual advice and solutions for your specific needs
• Implementation of appropriate prevention measures
• Regular review and update of security measures
• Quick response in case of another attack

Working with external IT security experts can help improve your company's data security and IT security and prevent future attacks. Find out more about professional IT security service providers such as MDSYSTEC and get in touch to find out more about the possibilities of cooperation.

Data recovery and backup strategies

If your medium-sized company has been hacked, data loss may occur. Effective data recovery and a reliable backup strategy are therefore of great importance.

Data recovery should be performed as follows:

• Identify the affected data
• Evaluate the degree of damage.
• Restore data from a secured backup.
• Verify the integrity of the recovered data.
• Change passwords and implement security measures to prevent future attacks.

To minimize data loss, we recommend the following backup strategies:

Backup strategy (advantages/disadvantages)

Full security

+ All data is backed up, easy recovery

- Higher storage requirements, longer backup time

Incremental backup

+ Only changed data is backed up, shorter backup time

- More complex recovery, higher potential for failure

Differential backup

+ Only data that has changed since the last full backup is backed up, easier recovery

- Larger storage requirements than incremental backup, longer backup time than differential backup

Choose the backup strategy that best suits your medium-sized company. Make sure you back up regularly and check the integrity of the backed up data regularly.

Strengthening the IT security culture in the company

The security of your company can only be guaranteed if every employee is aware of IT security risks. Here are a few steps you can take to strengthen your organization's IT security culture:

1. Define clear guidelines: Set clear guidelines for dealing with IT security issues and protecting corporate data. These should be understood by all employees and updated regularly.
2. Sensitize your employees: Train your employees regularly on IT security, e.g. through training courses or internal training programs. Sensitize them to the most common IT security threats, such as phishing attacks or social engineering.
3. Encourage reporting: Motivate your employees to report suspicious emails or incidents related to IT security. A quick response to an IT security issue can limit damage.
4. Implement access controls: Implement access controls to restrict access to sensitive data to specific employees. Use strong passwords and regular password changes.

By strengthening the IT security culture in your company, you can effectively improve your corporate security and prevent cyber attacks.

Regular review and update of security measures

In order to protect your company against cyber attacks in the long term, it is crucial to regularly review and adapt your IT security measures. Here are a few steps you can take:

1. Check your IT infrastructure regularly for security gaps

It is important to regularly check your systems for vulnerabilities in order to identify and fix them early on. Use appropriate tools to do this or hire external experts to carry out a thorough audit.

2. Update your software and hardware regularly

Keep your programs and devices up to date by installing regular updates and patches. Outdated software and hardware can quickly become a target for hackers.

3. Train your employees regularly on IT security issues

Sensitize your employees to IT security risks and regularly train them on new threat scenarios and appropriate protective measures.

4. Implement a strong password policy

Make sure that your employees regularly use and change secure passwords regularly. A strong password policy can help increase the security of your IT systems.

5. Conducting penetration tests

One way to test the effectiveness of your IT security measures is to perform penetration tests. Experts simulate targeted attacks to uncover and fix weak points.

By regularly reviewing and updating your IT security measures, you can protect your company against cyber attacks in the long term.

Raising employee awareness of phishing attacks

Phishing attacks are among the most common methods used by cyber criminals to obtain company data. As a medium-sized company, you should inform your employees how to recognize and avoid phishing attacks. Here are a few tips:

• Be careful with emails from unknown senders: Don't open attachments or click on links in emails from unknown senders. Check the sender's email address for potential discrepancies or errors.
• Watch out for suspicious requests: Be careful when requesting sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords, or financial information. Reputable companies never request such information via email.
• Check the website address: Don't click on links in emails, but manually enter the website address into your browser.
• Be alert to unusual or suspicious emails: Pay attention to emails that are unusually worded or contain spelling and grammar errors.

As a company, you should conduct regular training for your employees to raise awareness of cybercrime and IT security. In this way, you can minimize the risk of phishing attacks and increase corporate security.

External IT department: Your partner for IT security

If your medium-sized company has been hacked, an external IT department such as MDSYSTEC can offer you valuable support to improve your IT security and prevent future attacks.

MDSYSTEC is an experienced company that specializes in IT security solutions for SMEs. Our experts know the latest threats and know how to prevent them.

With MDSYSTEC as your partner in IT security, you benefit from:

Professional advice

MDSYSTEC provides you with individual and comprehensive advice on all issues relating to IT security and data protection.

Effective prevention

MDSYSTEC analyses your IT infrastructure and identifies weak points in order to close them in a targeted manner.

emergency management

Should an attack occur, MDSYSTEC is there to help you overcome the crisis.

Regular review

MDSYSTEC regularly monitors your IT security measures and adjusts them as necessary to ensure long-lasting security.

The security of your company data and compliance with data protection guidelines are very important to us. That is why we work closely with our customers to develop the best possible solutions.

Rely on MDSYSTEC's expertise and strengthen your IT security and corporate security. Contact us today and let us work together to find a solution for your individual requirements.

conclusion

If your medium-sized company is hacked, quick action is crucial. It is important to close the security gaps, secure the affected systems and maintain trust in your company.

By taking concrete measures to increase your data security and IT security, you can prevent future attacks. Regular reviews and updates of your security measures are of great importance.

Raising employee awareness of IT security risks and phishing attacks as well as a strong IT security culture are crucial to protect your company data.

By working with external IT security experts such as MDSYSTEC, you can optimize your security measures and ensure data security.

Overall, early prevention is the best protection against hacker attacks. By implementing the recommendations set out in this article, you can protect your medium-sized company from future threats.

‍