Immediate Steps to Take if Your Network is Hacked

Cyberattacks are a nightmare for businesses, sending normal operations spiraling out of control and causing significant financial loss. Because news reports of data breach typically involve national or multi-national companies, many businesses believe that targets of cyberattack are related to company size, industry or profile. Although larger companies originally were the primary targets, research shows that threat activists no longer discriminate. In fact, cybercrime is estimated to cost as much as two trillion dollars by the year 2019 – and a significant portion of losses will be within the small to mid-sized business demographic.

What precautions has your company implemented to avoid being victimized by cybercrime? What steps should be taken if a corporate network is infiltrated or email compromised? Having a proactive strategy for how to react to cyberattack could mean the difference between a quick recovery or shuttering a company. Below are some steps for avoiding or responding to a cyberattack:

Cybersecurity Assessment

Engage a company to evaluate the risk of cyberattack. Consider penetration testing, social engineering risk, and web application vulnerability. While network threats have existed for decades, the time between vulnerability and exploit is shrinking. Stories of cybercrime, threats to privacy and computer hacking are in the news weekly, and organizations are being forced to spend more money on investigations, notifications and response when sensitive and confidential information is lost or stolen. Proactively measure risk before being victimized.

Seek the Help of Trained Professionals

Immediately engage the services of a professionally managed IT team with experience in solving network security breaches, which can make all the difference in being protected with a multi-layered defense against cyberattack. Time is critical, and an IT solutions team will find the holes in your network to mitigate future risk. Don’t underestimate the efficiencies of having professional IT support to safeguard network security. Taking the steps to secure a network can be daunting, but with the help of a managed IT security services partner, the process becomes manageable.

Notify Your Customers

If a breach occurs, consider whether sensitive customer data has been compromised and immediately develop an appropriate response. Many industries have State and Federal compliance legalities to follow in such cases, so the response to a breach should adhere to proper specifications. Additionally, it is critical to notify customers to take necessary protection measures. Inform clients of exactly what data was exposed and provide assurance as to remediation steps in securing information, which not only satisfies ethical business practices but also provides transparency to ensure a level of trust for ongoing clients relationships.

Fortify Your Network Security

If hacked, take the necessary steps to update security measures to prevent future risk. Work with professional IT support to discuss best practices to fortify defenses. Ensure a multi-layered defense strategy is implemented to accommodate variance devices, networks, and remote access options available to staff. Building an ongoing relationship with a managed IT security services partner helps ensure proper safeguards to prevent future attacks.

It is also important to consider preparing an in-house process or procedure to follow if any staff member suspects that personal or private information has been compromised. Host team training on processes to effectively communicate with employees about the various ways technology can be hacked, such as phishing scams, and best practices when working from a non-secure network. Remember, it is vital to consult with your managed IT security services team on a regular basis to keep current on potential threats or updates – a hacker only must be successful one time to compromise a network.

Take the Next Step

The best time to resolve a network security breach is before one happens – by utilizing a proactive approach to avoid irreversible, costly damage. Employ preventative measures to safeguard data and the integrity of network security by assessing the current defense strategy. If internal IT capabilities or time is limited, partner with an experienced IT service provider, such as Roebuck Technologies, to elevate current IT infrastructure. This partnership will result in a cost-effective approach to on-boarding a multitude of technical expertise without expanding an in-house team.

Whether working alongside internal IT staff or being designated as company IT support, Roebuck Technologies will be able to identify gaps with a technology assessment and provide customized solutions. Our team works 24/7/365 to ensure every aspect of IT is being monitored for security and efficiency.

Contact Roebuck Technologies today for more information on how our managed IT services can help support your business.


Doug Coleman

Doug Coleman

Chief Operating Officer

Doug possesses over 20 years of expertise in corporate finance, information systems, logistics, supply chain management and competitive strategies. He has served in executive management not only for The Roebuck Group, but also Commercial Carrier Corporation, a nationwide transportation and logistics provider. Additionally, he served in senior management at Vology, a global value-added reseller of technology solutions. Doug earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and Master of Business Administration degrees from the University of Florida as well as a Juris Doctorate degree from Stetson University College of Law.