Recovering from a cyber event can be challenging for any organization, including non-profit organizations in Australia.
Here are some steps that non-profit organizations can take to recover from a cyber event:
Containment and assessment:
The first step in recovering from a cyber event is to contain the incident and assess the damage.
This may involve disconnecting affected systems from the network and determining what data has been compromised.
Response plan activation:
Non-profit organizations should have a response plan in place for cyber incidents, which outlines the steps to be taken in the event of an attack.
This plan should be activated as soon as the incident is detected to ensure a timely and coordinated response.
Notification:
If personal data has been compromised, non-profits may need to notify affected individuals and regulatory authorities, such as the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC), under the Notifiable Data Breaches (NDB) scheme.
Non-profits should follow the guidelines set out by the OAIC regarding the content and timing of data breach notifications.
Communication:
Non-profits should communicate with stakeholders, including donors, partners, and staff, about the incident and its impact.
This can help maintain trust and transparency with the organization’s supporters and minimize reputational damage.
Recovery and restoration:
Non-profits should work to restore affected systems and data, including implementing data backups, patching vulnerabilities, and updating security measures.
Non-profits should also review their response plan and security measures to identify areas for improvement.
Review and prevention:
Once the organization has recovered from the cyber event, it’s important to review the incident and identify areas for improvement.
Non-profits should also take steps to prevent future cyber incidents, including implementing stronger security measures and providing ongoing training and education to staff.
Recovering from a cyber event can be a complex and time-consuming process.
Non-profits can benefit from working with cybersecurity experts and seeking advice from relevant regulatory authorities to ensure they are taking appropriate steps to recover and prevent future incidents.