When a company gets hit by a cybersecurity crisis, like a data breach, it’s like when you mess up big time and have to figure out what to tell everyone. There’s a right way and a wrong way to handle it, and unfortunately, some companies choose the wrong way.
Take, for example, a story about Uber. Back in 2022, Uber’s former chief of security got in trouble with the U.S. Department of Justice for trying to hide a hack that affected 57 million people. Instead of telling the truth, he tried to pay off the hackers and keep it all a secret.
Experts in the field say that playing hide-and-seek with such serious issues isn’t wise. Every risk matters to a business, not just the techy bits. The best thing any company can do is admit to what happened as soon as possible. That’s because telling the truth early on can help fix the situation faster and keep people’s trust.
Sometimes, companies don’t talk about a hack right away because they’re not ready to deal with it. An example of this is Okta, an identity authentication company. They had a problem in January 2022 but didn’t really talk about it until March, after hackers started bragging about it online. This made Okta’s customers unhappy because they weren’t kept in the loop.
Experts suggest that being clear and upfront, even if you don’t have all the details, is important. It’s all about sharing what you know and how you plan to fix the problem. The trick is to get the information right and keep it consistent. No one wants to hear different stories. It’s like trying to put a puzzle together, but the pieces keep changing.
Communicating well during a cyber-crisis is about assessing risks properly. You have to know what could go wrong and who might be affected. This should then guide how you talk to everyone about the issue. And when you talk, make sure the technical stuff gets translated into simple language that everyone can understand.
One other big tip is to make sure everyone in your company knows how to keep quiet to avoid leaks. Sometimes, even following a hacker on social media from a personal account can lead to trouble.
If a company finds itself in the middle of a cyber-crisis, sometimes bringing in experts who know how to deal with such situations can make a big difference. They can help deliver the right message, the right way.
To read more about how to handle talking about cybersecurity issues the right way, check out this link: www.csoonline.com/article/3822104/how-to-communicate-clearly-and-legally-during-a-cybersecurity-crisis.html
For companies facing these challenges, Diversified Outlook Group can provide guidance and expertise. Handling cybersecurity risks with honesty and taking the right steps to communicate effectively is essential. Need help or want to know more about what to do in a cybersecurity situation? Reach out to Diversified Outlook Group at support@diversifiedoutlookgroup.com.
