A cyberattack is one of the most disruptive events a business can face, and recovering from it isn’t as simple as flipping a switch. If you’re hit, one of your first calls should be to a forensic investigation team. But what happens next?
It Will Take Time, Longer Than You Want…
In the first call with clients, your forensic investigation team explains that this is likely the worst moment your business has ever experienced, and it will take longer than you’d like to get fully back online. That timeline can vary dramatically depending on the size of your environment, how many systems were impacted, and whether you’ve paid a ransom and received a decryption key.
- For small environments: You might be back on your feet in as little as five days.
- For larger or more complex environments: Full recovery could take several weeks.
- During the process: Systems come back online gradually, as they are confirmed clean or decrypted. You’re not fully down for the entire period.
Rushing Leads to Reinfection
Your forensic investigation team’s top priority is getting you back online safely. If they cut corners, there’s a high risk of reinfection. That’s why every part of the forensic process is deliberate:
- Systems are rebuilt or restored only after thorough verification.
- Each device, server, or application is checked before it’s brought back online.
- If a decryptor key is used, it must be applied individually, there’s no “magic button” that fixes everything instantly.
Recovery Isn’t the Final Step
Even after systems are restored and your business is operational again, the forensic investigation continues. They will:
- Analyze how the attackers got in.
- Identify what data, if any, was stolen.
- Determine whether data breach notifications or compliance reporting is required.
The investigation also provides long-term recommendations to strengthen your environment and reduce the likelihood of future incidents.
Contacting a forensic team is never convenient, but it’s essential. Knowing what to expect can help you keep calm under pressure and make informed decisions that support both recovery and future resilience.
If you’re ready to strengthen your security, talk to us today. And if you don’t already have a Security Incident Response (SIR) plan in place, download our free SIR template to get started.
