What to Do Immediately After a Phishing Attack: A Business Owner's Recovery Guide

Discovering a phishing attack on your business can be a gut-wrenching experience. The panic, confusion, and fear of data loss or reputational damage can be overwhelming. But acting quickly and decisively can make all the difference. This guide walks you through the critical steps to take immediately after a phishing attack, helping you regain control and protect your business. Whether you're a small business owner or managing a larger team, knowing what to do in the first few hours is essential.

Immediate Actions (First 30 Minutes)

Checklist:

• Disconnect affected devices from the network immediately.

• Alert your IT support or cybersecurity provider.

• Change passwords for all potentially compromised accounts.

• Notify staff to avoid clicking suspicious links or opening unknown attachments.

• Preserve evidence (screenshots, emails, logs) for investigation.

• Check email rules and forwarding settings for unauthorized changes.

Assessing the Damage (Hour 1–4)

During this phase, it's crucial to understand the scope of the breach:

• Identify the entry point: Review email headers, logs, and user activity to determine how the phishing email bypassed filters.

• Scan systems: Run antivirus and anti-malware scans on all potentially affected devices.

• Audit access: Check for unauthorized access to email, cloud storage, or business systems.

• Review data exposure: Determine if sensitive data (client info, financials, credentials) was accessed or exfiltrated.

• Report the incident: Notify relevant Australian authorities such as the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC), and inform affected clients if necessary.

Preventing Future Attacks with Professional Support

Once the immediate threat is contained, it's time to strengthen your defenses:

• Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) across all accounts.

• Conduct staff training on phishing awareness and email hygiene.

• Use advanced email filtering and threat detection tools.

• Schedule regular security audits and penetration testing.

• Partner with a trusted Australian IT provider for ongoing monitoring and support.

How asp Protects Adelaide Businesses from Email Threats

At asp, we specialize in safeguarding South Australian businesses from email-based attacks. Our proactive approach includes:

• Real-time email threat detection and filtering

• Automated incident response workflows

• Staff training and simulated phishing campaigns

• Secure backup and recovery solutions

• Local support from experts who understand your business

Whether you're in Normanville or the heart of Adelaide, asp is your partner in cybersecurity resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I know if a phishing email was successful?

A: Look for signs like unauthorized logins, changed email rules, or data access anomalies.

Q: Should I report the attack to authorities?

A: Yes. Reporting to the ACSC and OAIC helps protect others and may be legally required in Australia.

Q: Can asp help even if I don’t have an IT team?

A: Absolutely. asp works with solo operators and small businesses to provide tailored protection.

Q: What’s the cost of phishing recovery?

A: Costs vary depending on the damage, but asp offers affordable recovery and prevention packages.

Q: How quickly can asp respond to an incident?

A: I am available for rapid response and can begin mitigation within hours.

Reporting Links for Australian Authorities

• Report a phishing or cyber security incident to ACSC: cyber.gov.au/report

• Notify a data breach to OAIC: oaic.gov.au/privacy/notifiable-data-breaches/report-a-data-breach

Legal Obligations Under the Australian Privacy Act

Under the Privacy Act 1988, Australian businesses covered by the Act must:

• Take reasonable steps to protect personal information from misuse, interference, and loss (APP 11).

• Notify affected individuals and the OAIC if a breach is likely to result in serious harm (Notifiable Data Breaches Scheme).

• Assess suspected breaches within 30 calendar days to determine if notification is required.

• Include details such as breach description, affected data types, and recommended actions in the notification.