Incident Response Archives - Transcend Networks, Inc.

Tech for Humans Newsletter

Craig Fouts — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 22:30:38 +0000

Most business owners don’t realize that when accounts get breached by a cybersecurity attack, it often isn’t obvious.

In fact, on average it takes more than 200 days before a company even notices. That’s a long time for someone else to be poking around in your systems.

This month, we’ll look at how these breaches slip under the radar and the signs you can watch for right now.

You’ll also learn a quick tech tip that could save you in an emergency, why most small businesses are still unprepared for cyber incidents, a gadget that makes note-taking smarter (and less wasteful), and a book that helps you solve problems by seeing the bigger picture.

So grab your favorite beverage of choice, get comfy, and let’s dig in.

THE BIG IDEA

🔐How Account Breaches Slip Under the Radar and How to Spot Them Before It’s Too Late

One of the biggest challenges with account breaches is how long they can go undetected.

If someone gains access to your Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, or email account, they often don’t start deleting files or sending spam. Instead, they quietly observe, gather information, and wait for the right moment to act.

According to the latest IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report, organizations take an average of 204 days to identify a breach and then another 73 days to contain it.

In other words, malicious activity can lurk in your system for nearly nine months before being managed.

Other industry data backs this up too: some organizations report that average dwell times, the time attackers remain in your system, can stretch to 280 days.

That’s more than two-thirds of a year in which attackers can poke around without being seen.

It also depends on the type of breach and the nature of the attacker. The most sophisticated ransomware gangs often remain hidden for months, corrupting backups, forcing victims to pay.

In some cases, they even search for the size of a company’s cyber insurance policy and then set the ransom to match. Nation-state actors and corporate espionage groups tend to linger even longer, siphoning off data.

On the other end of the spectrum, smaller ransomware gangs or hacktivists defacing websites usually operate much faster, going from breach to noticeable impact in days rather than months.

All that to say, you need to be aware of the potential signs of a breach. Here are some of the signs you should be looking out for.

Signs an Account Might Be Compromised

New or changed multi-factor authentication (MFA) methods

Attackers may try to disable or change MFA to avoid triggering alerts.

Unexplained account delegations or admin access changes

This can silently give someone else permissions they shouldn’t have.

Unusual file downloads or uploads

Small changes, such as moving documents or exporting data, can signal data gathering.

Notifications from external services

If shared documents or calendar items suddenly get comments or views from unfamiliar accounts, investigate.

Unexpected alerts from apps or services

A benign alert to you may actually signal an attacker has triggered (and silenced) the alert.

Changes to security or logging settings

If logs, alerts, or notifications suddenly stop working, it could be intentional sabotage.

What You Can Do This Week

Enable MFA everywhere. Yes, it’s a chore sometimes, but it stops most account takeovers dead in their tracks.
Weekly sign-in spot-checks. Look for weird hours, odd locations, or unfamiliar devices.
Audit email rules and delegation. Any mysterious forwarding or admin rights? Remove them immediately.
Set up alerts for logins from new devices, unusual locations, or multiple failed attempts.
Log and monitor admin/security settings. An easy way to know if someone’s quietly disabling your defenses.

The longer an attacker stays inside, the more they can do and the more expensive it gets. IBM data shows breaches that go beyond 200 days cost significantly more, around $5.46 million on average, compared to breaches resolved more quickly.

Breaches don’t need to be high drama. In fact, the worst ones go completely unnoticed until it’s too late. But with clearer eyes on the signs and simple, reliable steps, you can spot them early.

If you’d rather not dig through logs yourself, we can handle it for you. We’ll monitor activity, watch for changes, and let you know the moment something looks off, so you're never left wondering if something’s hiding in plain sight.

All you have to do is reach out.

JOHN'S TECH TIP

Have One Printed Copy of Your “Break Glass” Info

If your password manager or email ever locks you out, a single printed copy of your must-have details (admin logins, MFA recovery codes, emergency contacts) can save the day. Keep it secure, keep it updated, and only for true emergencies.

latest news

⚠️ Ransomware Attack Hits Swedish Municipalities

On August 23, Miljödata—a major IT supplier for local governments—was hit by a ransomware attack, disrupting services across approximately 200 municipalities in Sweden. The incident led to outages in critical systems like HR, sick leave, and medical records, with authorities hinting that sensitive data may have been exposed. Fixed ransom was reported at around 1.5 bitcoin (~$163,000), reinforcing how supply-chain vulnerabilities can quickly escalate.

🤖 Microsoft’s AI "Project Ire" Learns Malware Detection by Itself

Microsoft launched a prototype AI named Project Ire, capable of reverse-engineering software to detect malware autonomously. In early trials, it accurately flagged 90% of identified threats in Defender, though it's only caught about a quarter of total malware—a promising step toward faster, automated defense.

💻 Fake "Zoom Invites" Deliver Malware via Trusted Apps

A new spear-phishing campaign is hitting over 900 organizations by mimicking legitimate Zoom or Teams invites. Attackers trick users into downloading ConnectWise ScreenConnect, a remote access tool, which then gives them full control of systems.

The Interesting Statistic

Only 14% of Small Businesses Have a Cybersecurity or Incident Response Plan in Place

According to an Accenture Cybercrime Study, only 14% of small businesses have a cybersecurity or incident response plan in place, meaning the other 86% risk a messy, expensive scramble if something goes wrong.

The reality is that most breaches aren’t discovered right away, and when they finally surface, there’s usually panic:

Who handles it? Who needs to be told? What systems should be checked first? Without a plan, precious hours get wasted just figuring out where to start.

The good news? An incident response plan doesn’t need to be complicated. Even a simple one-page document (ideally printed) can make a huge difference. For example, yours could include:

Who calls IT first (or which provider you reach out to)
Who communicates with staff or clients so the message is clear and consistent
Where the backups live and how to restore them if needed

Having even this much written down can save you hours of stress and keep your team calm if the unexpected happens. And once you’ve got the basics, you can refine it over time instead of scrambling during a crisis.

The Gadget of the Month

If you’re still scribbling on sticky notes and piling up paper notebooks, it might be time for an upgrade.

The Rocketbook Core looks like a normal notebook, but it’s anything but. You write in it with a special pen, snap a photo with the app, and your notes are instantly saved to the cloud — Google Drive, Dropbox, OneNote, wherever you want them. Then, wipe the page clean with a damp cloth and use it again.

Everything gets stored digitally, while you still get the satisfaction of writing by hand. Plus, it's eco-friendly!

And unlike a regular notebook, this one doesn’t fill up. One Rocketbook can last for years, which makes its ~$40 price tag a no-brainer.

The book of the month

Most business problems aren’t caused by one bad decision or one weak link. They’re caused by systems.

That’s what Donella Meadows explains in Thinking in Systems, a classic book that shows you how to see the bigger picture, spot the hidden patterns, and make smarter decisions by understanding the systems that drive results.

It’s not a heavy academic read. Meadows had a gift for explaining complex ideas in plain English. You’ll walk away with practical tools to think differently about bottlenecks in your business, recurring issues that never seem to go away, and even the way your team communicates.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re fixing the same problems over and over, this book helps you step back and see why. And once you can see the system, you can actually change it.

DID YOU KNOW?

The first-ever disk drive (IBM 350 RAMAC, 1956) stored just 5 MB, weighed over a ton, and cost $10,000 a month to lease. Today you can buy a 1 TB drive that fits in your pocket for under $100. You get 200,000 times the storage for a fraction of the cost.

Thanks for reading!

My team and I put this newsletter together to share tech advice that’s actually useful, and (hopefully) even fun to read.

When we’re not writing these, we’re helping businesses like yours become more secure and stay productive without all the tech headaches.

If you ever need a professional opinion on anything IT related, simply hit reply and let me know.

We're here to help.

www.tnius.com

888-233-1792

Supporting the business community in the Greater Atlanta Metro area and throughout the Southeast U.S.

The post Tech for Humans Newsletter appeared first on Transcend Networks, Inc..

Incident Response

John Penrod — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 06:00:00 +0000

Data breaches are an unfortunate reality for businesses of all sizes and require immediate action when they happen. How a company manages a data breach can significantly impact reputation, financial stability, and legal standing in the business community.

The average cost of a data breach is $4.88 million according to Forbes Magazine (August 2024).

Successful recovery requires a well-designed data breach prevention and management plan. This article will guide you through the key steps of damage control and highlight the pitfalls you should avoid to reduce the negative impact on your business.

First thing: Act Quickly

When dealing with a data breach you’ve got to act quickly. As soon as you detect a breach, initiate your company’s response plan. Your top priorities should be containing the breach, assess the extent of the damage, and notify the affected parties. The faster you act, the better your chances of mitigating any damage.

Pitfall #1: Delaying Response

One of the most critical mistakes a company can make after a data breach is failing to act immediately. Delays increase the risk of further data loss and erode customer trust. Delays can increase your liability and cost you customers. Don’t panic but try to get a handle on the situation as quickly as you can.

Contain, Assess and Remediate

Your first step in containing a breach is to isolate affected systems. You need to disconnect impacted systems from the network, disable user accounts or even shut down specific services as necessary. You want to prevent the breach from spreading further.

After containing the breach, you need to assess the scope of the damage. Your priorities are to find out what data was accessed, how it was accessed, and the extent of the exposure. You will need this information to inform stakeholders and determine your next steps. If you’re not equipped to make the needed assessments, contact an IT provider like Transcend Networks who specializes in network intrusion analyses.

After you have assessed the extent of the breach, you’ll need to deploy remediation measures. These measures must address exploited vulnerabilities and ensure that your company takes all necessary steps to prevent a recurrence.

Pitfall #2: Failing to Contain the Breach

Another critical mistake is failing to contain the breach quickly. Once your business detects a data breach, take immediate action to prevent further data loss. Failure to do so can result in significant damage to your company’s credibility and finances. The liabilities from data breaches vary from state to state, so it’s advisable to consult with your business attorney as you plan a go forward strategy.

Notify Stakeholders Promptly

You should explain clearly to your customers and stakeholders what happened, what data was compromised, and what steps are being taken to address the issue. Avoid using jargon. The goal is to make information clear and accessible to everyone.

Keep affected parties informed with regular updates as the situation evolves, even if there is no new information. Ensure all communication is consistent, transparent, and accurate. Providing regular updates reassures people your company is actively managing the situation.

Consider setting up a special hotline, using email updates, or using a dedicated section of the company website to keep people informed.

Address Customer Concerns

Customers are likely to be anxious and worried after a data breach. You should address these concerns promptly and sympathetically. Provide people with clear instructions on how to act and spell out the steps they can take to protect themselves. An effective and prompt response can help maintain customer loyalty.

Pitfall #3: Inadequately Communicating

Communication with customers and other stakeholders is critical after a data breach. Inadequate or unclear communication can hurt your business, leading to misunderstanding, frustration, and reputational damage. You’ve worked hard to gain your customer’s trust and you will need to work hard to regain it.

Comply With and Document All Regulatory and Legal Requirements

Depending on the nature of the data breach, you may need to notify regulatory authorities. Does your business know in advance how to report a data breach under state and federal laws? Delaying this step can result in serious legal repercussions. Ensure that you understand all data breach notification requirements and that you follow them promptly.

Familiarize yourself with the legal and regulatory requirements in your state. Make sure you are aware of the timelines for breach notification, the specific information your company must provide and who you must notify.

Documenting your company’s response to a data breach is crucial for compliance. This documentation should include a timeline of events, the steps taken to contain the breach and any communication with stakeholders. Proper documentation can protect your company in the event of legal or regulatory scrutiny.

Pitfall #4: Neglecting Legal and Regulatory Requirements

Ignoring legal and regulatory requirements after a data breach can have severe consequences. Many states have strict data protection laws which dictate how businesses must respond to breaches. Businesses that fail to comply can face significant fines and legal action.

Support Affected Employees

If the breach has compromised employee data, you need to support them as well. This could include offering credit monitoring services, providing clear communication and addressing any concerns they may have. Supporting your employees helps maintain morale and trust within the organization.

Pitfall #5: Overlooking the Human Element

The human element is often overlooked in a company’s data breach response. The emotional impact on employees and customers can be significant. Addressing the human element is essential for a comprehensive and effective response.

Learn from the Incident

Finally, view the data breach as a learning opportunity. Make sure your company carries out a thorough post-incident review, including identifying what went wrong and how it can be prevented in the future. Establish training and awareness programs to educate employees on data security best practices.

Manage Data Breaches with Help from a Trusted IT Professional

Managing and recovering from data breaches is challenging. Do you need IT support that has your back? We can help you prevent and manage breaches to reduce damage.

As cyberthreats evolve, your company’s security strategy needs to evolve as well. Reach out today to schedule a chat about setting up your company’s data breach prevention and management plan at 888.714-2821 or visit www.tnius.com.

Article used with permission from The Technology Press.

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