Small businesses across Canada are prime targets for cyberattacks. Hackers look for easy access points: outdated software, weak passwords, or untrained employees. Knowing what to do when your office computer is hacked can make all the difference. The faster you act after a breach, the better your chance of protecting customer data and reducing recovery costs. That’s where an incident response plan comes in.

Establish an Incident Response Plan

An incident response plan gives you a clear path forward when stress is high and every minute is critical. This document defines how your company detects, responds to, and recovers from a security breach. It can make the difference between a quick recovery after your business computer is hacked and lasting damage to your company.

Here’s what to include in your incident response plan: 

Step 1. Detect the Threat 

Assign someone to monitor data and devices and track security alerts. Create a clear process for employees to report security issues or unusual activity. 

Step 2: Communicate & Assign Responsibilities 

Decide which team members contact your IT provider, communicate with clients, and handle legal reporting. You’ll also want to assign who else needs to be notified if an attack occurs, including suppliers, investors, and external security services who can step in to help. 

If a breach exposes personal information, you may be required to report it under PIPEDA (the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act). Tell your company’s lawyer early to make sure you understand your legal obligations. Record your actions, including the time you discovered the incident, who was involved, and the systems impacted. 

Step 3: Quickly Contain the Damage 

Make sure that you quickly disconnect affected computers from your network, revoke unauthorized access, and secure your backup systems. 

Speed matters here; even a short delay can lead to data corruption or additional damage. Designate a staff member to contain immediate threats. Make sure they know which devices to isolate and how to reach your IT support partner. If you run a managed network, Joe Apps provides 24/7 remote and on-site support to identify the cause of the threat and protect your remaining devices. 

Having clear communication procedures means everyone knows who to call and what to do during a security event, so your staff stays focused and efficient. Joe Apps helps businesses set up workflows before a break occurs, teaching business owners in Burlington and across Ontario how to deal with a hacker. 

Step 4: Safely Restore & Recover

After you’ve contained the threat and identified the cause, focus on safely restoring your systems. Use verified backups to recover lost or encrypted data from your business’s backed-up computers. Test restored files before bringing systems back online, and confirm all software updates and antivirus protections are current. 

Avoid rushing to resume normal operations. Acting too soon can reintroduce the same hidden vulnerabilities or malware. A structured recovery plan prevents repeated infection and helps your business resume operations with confidence. 

With our Infrastructure and Cloud Backup services, our team can help you recover clean, secure copies of your business’s important files while our technicians confirm network integrity. 

Step 5: Check Your Systems & Close the Gaps

After recovery, investigate how the breach happened. Start by reviewing user permissions and remote access rules. Next, patch or replace outdated software and hardware. This audit after the incident is essential to reducing the risk of a repeat issue. 

Many small businesses overlook the follow-up phase, but it’s where the most significant security improvements happen. Schedule a full cybersecurity assessment to find gaps before hackers do. Joe Apps offers Cybersecurity and Compliance support to evaluate systems and ensure your policies align with privacy requirements. 

Test Your Incident Response Plan

You can’t stop every attack with technology alone. Employees need to be able to carry out an incident response plan when it matters most. 

Test your plan regularly by reviewing each component to identify areas that require enhanced security. Run mock incident drills so staff can practice their roles and identify where they can improve. 

Get A Joe & Protect Your Business Against Cyber Threats 

A cyberattack can disrupt business in minutes, but a strong response plan keeps you in control. A smart incident response plan helps you recover efficiently and prevent future damage.

Joe Apps Technology Support works with businesses in Burlington and across Ontario to create smart incident response plans. If your business computer is hacked, our team can help you recover quickly and strengthen cybersecurity across every device and network. Contact Joe Apps to start creating your plan today.