Yesterday, I faced that critical question: do I need to call an ambulance for a loved one?
And after the event was resolved, it got me thinking about how businesses often face similar moments when a potential cyber attack strikes.
Deciding whether you’re experiencing a minor incident or a full-blown emergency isn’t always straightforward.
Let’s dive into the lessons from that real-life decision-making process, and how they directly apply to cyber resilience.
1. Assess the Situation: Is This Really an Emergency?
When someone is hurt or ill, the first instinct is often panic.
But taking a moment to evaluate the symptoms is essential.
Are they severe enough to warrant immediate attention, or could this be handled in another way?
In a cyber context, that same calm assessment is crucial.
Not every suspicious email or system alert means you’re under attack.
Are you seeing unusual login attempts, sudden network slowdowns, or unexpected file changes?
Instead of reacting impulsively, a clear-headed analysis helps distinguish between minor incidents and actual emergencies that require escalation.
2. Knowing Your “Thresholds” for Calling in Help
In medical terms, there are certain symptoms that mean you should call an ambulance without hesitation: difficulty breathing, severe pain, or unconsciousness, for example.
In cyber security, your business should have clearly defined “thresholds” too - signs that tell you when it’s time to call in your cyber response team or activate your incident response plan.
What are the red flags for your business?
Repeated login attempts from unfamiliar locations, system lockouts, large-scale data transfers you didn’t authorise - these are all symptoms that warrant immediate action.
Just like with a medical emergency, recognising these signs early can make all the difference.
3. Preventative Care vs. Emergency Response
Regular health check-ups and preventative care can reduce the chances of a medical emergency, and the same goes for cyber security.
Proactive measures - such as running vulnerability assessments, updating software regularly, and educating employees on cyber hygiene - go a long way in reducing the likelihood of a major breach.
It’s like having a balanced diet and regular exercise for your cyber defences.
But when an attack does hit, all that preventative care pays off.
With established security protocols, strong firewalls, and educated staff, you’re less likely to find yourself in panic mode, scrambling to respond.
4. Call the Right “Specialists” When Needed
In a medical emergency, you call an ambulance because you need professionals trained to handle the crisis.
In a cyber attack, you might need specialists - whether it’s your in-house security team or external cyber experts.
Knowing when to escalate and call in the right support is critical.
If the attack seems to go beyond the capabilities of your internal team, don’t hesitate to bring in external specialists.
They bring advanced tools and insights that can help contain the incident and mitigate damage - just like paramedics bring the right equipment and expertise to stabilise a patient on the way to the hospital.
5. Communication is Key
When I was assessing whether to call an ambulance, communication was vital.
Clear and concise information can be the difference between a calm, effective response and chaos.
Similarly, in the event of a cyber attack, having clear lines of communication - both within your team and with any external parties - is essential.
Who in your organisation needs to be notified?
Do you have a designated incident response team?
Is there a protocol for informing clients if their data might be compromised?
Ensuring everyone knows their role reduces confusion and enables a swift, effective response.
6. Debrief and Learn from the Experience
After any emergency, medical or cyber, there’s value in a debrief.
What went well? What could have been done better?
When things calm down, it’s crucial to look back at the incident and see what lessons can be learned.
Did your team respond as expected?
Were there gaps in your security plan?
A post-incident analysis helps identify areas for improvement so you’re even better prepared next time.
Bottom Line: Plan for Both Minor Incidents and Major Emergencies
The decision to call an ambulance isn’t one you make lightly -and neither is deciding how to respond to a potential cyber attack.
Having a plan, knowing the thresholds for action, and understanding the value of both preventative care and emergency response can mean the difference between minor disruption and major catastrophe.
At Toro Digital, we’re here to guide businesses in preparing for cyber incidents before they strike.
Because just like in health, being prepared and knowing when to act is key to resilience.