Steps to Take After a Company Data Breach: A Business-Critical Response Guide
- Neil Hare-Brown
- Apr 17
- 3 min read
A data breach can expose sensitive customer, employee, or business information - and if handled poorly, it can result in regulatory fines, reputational damage, and long-term customer trust issues.
Whether caused by a cyber attack, insider threat, or accidental exposure, what you do next is critical.
At STORM Guidance, we help businesses respond quickly and confidently after a breach - managing containment, communication, and compliance with precision.
Here’s what to do immediately following a data breach:
1. Confirm and Contain the Breach
Speed matters. As soon as a breach is suspected:
Isolate affected systems to stop further data loss
Disable compromised accounts or credentials
Block unauthorised access and preserve system logs
Avoid wiping systems until digital forensics can begin - preserving evidence is vital.
2. Assemble Your Incident Response Team
Activate your internal incident response plan. Your response team should include:
IT/security leads
Legal and compliance
Executive leadership
Communications/PR
HR and customer service (if personal data is involved)
Clear roles and a central coordination point help ensure a consistent, confident response.
3. Conduct a Forensic Investigation
Work with internal teams or external experts to:
Identify the source and scope of the breach
Determine what data was accessed or exfiltrated
Understand how long the attacker had access and what actions were taken
This step will shape your regulatory reporting and notification plan.
4. Assess the Regulatory and Legal Risk
If the breach involves personal data (especially under GDPR or similar laws), you may be legally required to:
Notify a regulator (e.g. the ICO in the UK) within 72 hours
Inform affected individuals if there’s a risk to their rights or freedoms
Document your investigation and response, even if notification isn’t required
If the Breach Involves Ransomware or Extortion:
If the attackers are threatening to leak data unless a ransom is paid or if you’ve received communication from a threat actor you must avoid responding directly.
STORM Guidance can manage secure threat actor engagement on your behalf, including verifying the legitimacy of threats, handling negotiations discreetly, and supporting safe recovery where needed.
Legal guidance is strongly advised. STORM Guidance works with legal partners to support compliance.
5. Communicate Transparently, But Strategically
Prepare communication for:
Regulators
Customers or affected individuals
Suppliers and partners
Internal staff
Communications should be:
Honest and timely
Reassuring and action-oriented
Consistent across channels
STORM Guidance supports crisis communications to help protect your brand and minimise panic.
6. Secure Systems and Begin Recovery
Once the breach is contained:
Apply security patches and reset access credentials
Strengthen access controls and implement monitoring
Begin restoration of affected systems from clean backups
Monitor for follow-up attacks or signs of persistence
7. Conduct a Post-Breach Review
Turn the breach into a turning point. After recovery:
Document what happened and how it was handled
Review what worked and what needs improvement
Update your response plan and training
Conduct simulations and executive briefings
Need Help After a Breach? We’re Ready.
Whether you’re in the middle of an incident or preparing for the worst, STORM Guidance provides:
✔ Rapid incident response and digital forensics
✔ Legal and regulatory support
✔ Communication planning and stakeholder management
✔ Long-term resilience strategy
Data Breach Recovery Starts with the Right First Steps
Data breaches are high-stress moments - but they don't have to define your business.
A calm, coordinated response helps limit damage, avoid fines, and protect trust.
STORM Guidance is here to support your business at every step - from investigation and regulatory response to secure threat actor engagement if extortion is involved, and long-term resilience planning.
