What to Do After a Cyber Breach (Australian Business Guide)

Written By Glen Statkiewicz

Cyber incidents aren’t just a problem for large organisations—small businesses are increasingly being targeted too. In many cases, attackers specifically look for smaller businesses because they often have fewer security controls in place.

If a breach occurs and personal information may be at risk, you may be required to notify affected individuals. This should be done as soon as reasonably possible once you become aware of the issue. Acting quickly not only helps you meet your obligations, but also reduces the potential impact on your customers, your reputation, and your business overall.

What Should You Do Immediately?

If something goes wrong, don’t panic—but act quickly.

If you’re unsure where to start, we’ve created a simple Cyber Incident Response Worksheet to guide you through the first steps. It helps you capture what’s happening and take immediate action while staying focused.

👉 Download the free worksheet here in a Word Document or a PDF

1. Contain the Breach

Start by limiting the damage:

  • Change passwords immediately

  • Disable any compromised accounts

  • Disconnect affected devices or systems if necessary

2. Assess What Happened

Understand the scope of the issue:

  • What data was involved?

  • Who is affected?

  • How serious is the risk?

3. Decide if Reporting Is Required

Under Australian law, you may need to report the breach if there’s a risk of serious harm.

Ask yourself:

  • Is there likely to be serious harm?

  • Can the issue be contained?

If you’re unsure, it’s better to properly investigate before making a decision.

👉 You can report a breach or determine your obligations here: https://www.cyber.gov.au/report-and-recover/report

4. Fix the Problem

Once contained, strengthen your systems:

  • Apply security patches and updates

  • Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA)

  • Review and improve security settings

What Happens If You Don’t Report?

Failing to report an eligible data breach can lead to:

  • Fines and regulatory penalties

  • Reputational damage

  • Loss of customer trust

Delaying action can also make the situation worse.

How to Reduce Your Risk

Prevention is always better than recovery.

Simple steps include:

  • Enabling MFA on email and key accounts

  • Keeping systems and software up to date

  • Using proper email security tools

  • Limiting access to sensitive data

Most breaches happen due to simple gaps that can be fixed.

Helpful Resources

Final Thoughts

Cyber breaches can happen to any business—but preparation makes all the difference.

Knowing what to do, acting quickly, and having the right safeguards in place can significantly reduce the impact.

If you’re unsure how secure your current setup is—or what you’d do in this situation—it’s worth reviewing things before a problem occurs.

Glen Statkiewicz
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