8 Common Cyber Incident Response Mistakes—and How to Avoid Them

When a cyberattack hits, the clock starts ticking. Every minute counts, and even small missteps can drag out downtime, increase costs, and make recovery harder. That’s why the best time to think about incident response is long before you ever need it.

In a recent panel hosted by Dataprise, experts from NFP and Thompson Hine shared their perspective on where organizations often go wrong during a cyber incident. From outdated plans to insurance surprises, here are the key takeaways to help your team stay ready.

1. Cyber Threats Keep Changing

Cybercriminals don’t stand still, and neither should your defenses. Some of the biggest trends they discussed include:

• Firewall and VPN vulnerabilities: Outdated or misconfigured devices are still one of the easiest ways for attackers to get in.
• Hypervisor-level encryption: Instead of targeting individual machines, attackers are locking down entire environments at the host level.
• Cloud misconfigurations: Weak segmentation or poorly secured cloud setups give attackers easy pathways between cloud and on-prem environments.
• Data theft before encryption: Many modern ransomware groups steal data first, then encrypt systems later for extra leverage.
• Business Email Compromise (BEC): Email-based scams and credential theft remain a constant threat, often leading to wire fraud.

Regular security assessments and configuration reviews are your best defense against these evolving tactics. Many incidents start with gaps that could have been found and fixed earlier.

2. Poor Preparation Leads to Costly Mistakes

Plenty of companies have incident response plans, but that doesn’t mean they’re prepared. Some of the most common issues happen well before an incident occurs:

• Outdated plans: Contact lists and playbooks that haven’t been reviewed in years can cause confusion when you need them most.
• Gaps in cyber insurance: Inaccurate information on insurance applications can come back to bite you during a claim.
• Weak documentation: Missing network diagrams or data maps slow down recovery and investigation.
• Disorganized credential management: Passwords saved in unsecured locations make it harder to restore systems.
• No wire transfer safeguards: Simple procedures like multi-step verification can stop BEC fraud in its tracks.
• No restoration priorities: If you don’t know which systems should come back online first, you risk unnecessary downtime.

An incident response plan isn’t something you create once and forget. It should be reviewed, tested, and updated regularly.

3. Pick Your Incident Response Partner Ahead of Time

One of the worst times to search for an incident response vendor is in the middle of an attack. Pre-selecting and vetting your team in advance saves valuable time and ensures everyone knows their role.

Keep these points in mind:

• Insurance requirements: Some policies only cover certain pre-approved vendors.
• Independence matters: Your MSP shouldn’t be both the operator and the investigator, as that can create liability issues.
• Speed is critical: Pre-vetted partners can jump in immediately, without wasting time on contract reviews.

4. Paying the Ransom Won’t Instantly Fix the Problem

It’s a common misconception that paying the ransom is the fastest way to recover. In reality:

• Decryption tools don’t always work and can sometimes corrupt data.
• Large environments can take weeks or months to fully restore, even after payment.
• You may still have legal obligations to disclose the breach if data was stolen.

Decisions around ransom payments should be made carefully and involve legal, insurance, and incident response teams.

5. Communication Can Help or Hurt Your Response

How your organization communicates during a breach matters just as much as your technical response. Common mistakes include:

• Sharing information too early, before the facts are clear, which can create confusion.
• Waiving legal privilege by being careless in written statements.
• Poor coordination between legal, insurance, and IR teams, which slows everything down.

Clear communication plans should be built into your response strategy so you’re not improvising under pressure.

6. Cyber Insurance Details Can Be Tricky

Cyber insurance can be a lifeline after an attack, but only if you understand your policy. Some common issues include:

• Inaccurate reporting: If your security posture is misstated, claims can be denied.
• Coverage gaps: Many policies don’t pay for implementing new security tools after an incident.
• Terminology confusion: “Cyber event” and “breach” can mean different things, and coverage can vary.
• Lack of broker involvement: If your broker isn’t part of your tabletop exercises, you may find unpleasant surprises when you file a claim.

Treat your insurance policy like the legal contract it is. Know what’s covered, what’s not, and what your responsibilities are.

7. Know Who to Call and When

Time is everything during an incident. Ideally, you’re notifying legal, your IR provider, and your insurer quickly, but in the right order. Having this clearly outlined in your IR plan keeps everyone on the same page and avoids delays or privilege issues.

8. Turn These Lessons Into Action

Cyber incidents are going to happen. The key is how well you respond. Here’s a quick checklist to strengthen your incident response plan:

• Keep your IR plan and contact lists current
• Vet legal, IR, and insurance partners ahead of time
• Maintain accurate network and data documentation
• Establish communication guidelines in advance
• Review your cyber insurance policy carefully
• Decide on restoration priorities before an incident
• Test your backups and recovery processes regularly

Final Thoughts

Responding to a cyber incident isn’t just about speed. It’s about making smart, well-coordinated decisions under pressure. By tightening up your preparation, aligning your partners, and avoiding common missteps, you can significantly reduce the impact of a breach.

Dataprise helps organizations build and strengthen their incident response strategies before they’re needed. Talk to our cybersecurity team to get started.

If you want to go deeper into this topic, check out our on-demand webinar where our cybersecurity experts break down real-world planning strategies and share practical tips for IT leaders. Watch the webinar here.