Build an Incident Response Plan for Cyber Security That Wins Against Attacks     

Why an Incident Response Plan for Cyber Security Matters 

Every small business understands the importance of protecting its data and operations. But when it comes to serious threats, only a well-prepared company can truly respond confidently. That’s where an incident response plan for cyber security becomes a critical asset. With a solid plan in place, you’re not just reacting—you’re winning against attacks. 

At Gallop Technology Group, we partner with small firms and law offices across the U.S. to build practical, tailored incident response strategies. With our expertise in cybersecurity, we help you create a cyber attack incident response plan that’s easy to understand, simple to deploy, and designed for real-world results. Our focus is on clarity, preparedness, and rapid recovery—so you can keep your focus on your business, not repairing after a breach. 

Below, we’ll guide you through how to develop a strong incident response, starting with how to define roles and responsibilities, then move into communication and action. Use this guide to build or refine your security incident response process, so you’re ready when the unexpected happens. 

 

Understanding the Core of Your Response Strategy 

What is a Cyber Attack Incident Response Plan? 

An effective cyber attack incident response plan lays out how your organization will identify, react to, and recover from a cybersecurity event. According to industry frameworks, such a plan should address everything from preparation to lessons learned.  

When you have a strong security incident response blueprint, you avoid scrambling when trouble hits. That translates to lower damage, faster recovery, and stronger trust with your clients. 

Why Incident Response Matters for Small Businesses 

Small businesses are often seen as easier targets, and a mishandled incident can lead to long outages, loss of sensitive data, regulatory fines, and reputational damage. Having a structured incident response plan for cyber security gives you the tools to respond rather than react—and to win rather than lose. 

In short: by planning ahead, you reduce confusion in a crisis and increase your chance of coming out on top. 

 

Defining Roles and Responsibilities in Your Incident Response

Assign Key Team Roles Ahead of Time 

A cornerstone of any effective incident response is clear assignment of specific roles and responsibilities. Without that clarity, delays, miscommunication, or missed steps can make a security incident far worse.  

Here are typical roles to consider for your incident response team: 

• Communication Lead: Manages internal and external updates—such as informing staff, clients or regulators. 

• IT Lead: Handles the technical side—detecting the breach, containing it, investigating and restoring systems. 

• Legal/Compliance Lead: Coordinates law-firm or external adviser involvement, ensures regulatory steps are followed. 

• Documenter: Records everything: when the incident was detected, what actions were taken, by whom, and outcome. 

 

Assigning these roles ahead of time means when a security incident response is required, you’re not deciding on the fly who should act—everyone knows their part. 

Build a Balanced Incident Response Team 

Beyond individual roles, build a functional team covering all necessary areas. For example: 

• IT Experts: Someone familiar with your systems, networks and key applications who can act quickly. 

• Legal Advisor or Law Firm: Particularly if you handle regulated data (e.g., legal, health or finance sectors). 

• Insurance Representative: If you carry cyber-liability coverage, include the contact ahead of time so they’re looped in promptly. 

• Operations/Management Lead: Oversees the response, coordinates decisions and ensures business continuity choices are made with context. 

 

Having pre-established contacts and providing training ahead of time helps the team act swiftly instead of scrambling. It means your cyber attack incident response plan is not just a document—it’s a practiced process. 

 

Establishing Communication Protocols & Action Plans

Secure Communication is Essential 

In a security incident response, how you communicate internally and externally can make or break your response. If email systems are compromised, relying on them could be a mistake. You must have secure alternative channels.  

Think about: 

• Internal incident-reporting address or hotline. 

• Alternate communication tool (encrypted chat or phone tree) when primary systems are down. 

• External communications template for notifying clients, partners or regulators, supported by designated spokesperson(s). 

 

Immediate Response & Containment Steps 

Your incident response should clearly map out: what actions happen in the first few hours, who does them, and how you validate each step. The first hours matter most in limiting damage.  

Typical early actions include: 

• Detect triggering events and alert the team. 

• Isolate affected systems to stop further damage (disconnect network segments, shut down affected devices, block threat actors). 

• Investigate the breach’s scope and origin. 

• Begin containment while preserving forensic evidence. 

 

Recovery Phase & Post-Incident Review 

After containment comes restoration: fix vulnerabilities, patch systems, recover data from backups, ensure integrity of operations. Then comes the review: what worked? What didn’t? How can you update your plan? This is the essence of continuous improvement in your incident response plan for cyber security.  

When the dust settles, schedule a “lessons-learned” meeting, update documentation, run tabletop/training exercise, and communicate improvements across the organization. 

 

Putting It All Together: Creating Your Plan

Step-by-Step Build of Your Incident Response Plan for Cyber Security 

Here’s a structured approach your organization (especially as a small business) can follow to build an effective incident response plan for cyber security: 

Step 1 – Preparation 

• Inventory your critical assets, systems and data. 

• Identify who will be on your incident response team, with contact info. 

• Define roles and responsibilities (communication lead, IT lead, legal lead, documenter). 

• Establish your secure communication channels and escalation paths. 

• Create or adapt a written plan (your “IRP”) that your team can reference quickly.  

 

Step 2 – Detection and Analysis 

• Monitor logs, alerts, user behavior for anomalies. 

• Define how you determine if a security event becomes a full-blown incident. 

• Activate your notification process when required.

  

Step 3 – Containment, Eradication & Recovery 

• Contain the incident: isolate affected systems, block threat actor paths. 

• Eradicate root causes: malware removal, credential resets, patching. 

• Bring systems back online: restore backups, verify integrity. 

• Communicate status to stakeholders as per the plan. 

 

Step 4 – Post-Incident Activity (Lessons Learned) 

• Conduct a formal review: what happened? How did we respond? What can we improve? 

• Update the plan, update team training, and run a simulation exercise. 

• Document findings and maintain a record for auditing/insurance/regulators.  

 

Special Considerations for Small Businesses & Law Firms 

For your context—small businesses, law firms—the emphasis should be on simplicity, clarity and speed. You don’t need overly complex frameworks; you need a plan you can execute. Keep these extra tips in mind: 

• Keep your roles lean: your communication lead might be your office manager; legal might be your external counsel. 

• Keep contact lists accessible offline or in secure printouts (in case digital systems fail). 

• Run a short tabletop exercise once or twice per year, so everyone knows what to do. 

• Make sure your backup and recovery process is tested regularly. Data integrity is essential. 

• Don’t assume your people know what to do—train them. Your security incident response success depends on preparedness and practice. 

 

Testing, Training & Ongoing Improvement

Why Testing Your Incident Response Matters 

Even a good plan won’t deliver results unless it’s practiced. Regular drills help you discover hidden gaps before a real crisis hits. Organizations that test their incident response plan for cyber security routinely are more likely to respond quickly and effectively.  

Training Your Team 

Ensure every member of your incident response team—from IT lead to documenter to communication lead—knows their role, where the plan lives, and how to activate it. For small businesses, a half-day simulation involving a fake breach scenario can pay big dividends. 

Continuous Improvement 

As your business grows, as technology changes, and as attacks evolve, so must your plan. Set a schedule (at least annually) to review your incident response strategy, update roles, test new systems, and refresh training.