Building a Cyber Security Incident Response Plan: A Comprehensive Guide

Cyber attacks aren’t just a possibility. They’re a growing certainty. In fact, according to the Australian Cyber Security Centre, over 87,400 cybercrime reports were filed in the 2023–24 financial year.

To put this in perspective, that’s one report every six minutes, with small and medium-sized businesses often bearing the brunt. That’s why having a Cyber Security Incident Response Plan (CIRP) matters. However, building an effective CIRP can feel overwhelming without the right guidance and support.

And that’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive guide. We’ll walk you through the key stages of a Cyber Security Incident Response Plan and show you how partnering with a Managed IT Services provider like ADITS can turn your plan from a document on the shelf into a real, operational defence.

What is a cyber security incident response plan?

A cyber attack can throw your entire business into chaos. Without a clear plan in place, your team is forced to react on the fly. 

A Cyber Security Incident Response Plan is a documented, strategic approach that outlines how your business will detect, respond to and recover from a cyber incident. It gives you a clear action plan for different threat scenarios, from ransomware attacks and phishing scams to data breaches.

A strong CIRP helps your business:

• Minimise downtime and operational disruption.
• Reduce the impact of data loss or corruption.
• Strengthen legal, financial and reputational protection.
• Demonstrate to regulators and clients that you take cyber threats seriously.

Why your business needs a CIRP in 2025

Cyber security threats are evolving, and so too is the risk to Australian businesses. It’s no longer just tech giants and government agencies under attack. Today’s cybercriminals are targeting small and medium-sized businesses with growing frequency, often because they’re seen as easier targets.

New tactics like ransomware-as-a-service, AI-generated phishing emails, and supply chain breaches make attacks faster, stealthier, and harder to contain. And with regulatory pressure mounting, the cost of mishandling a breach can quickly escalate.

That’s why a CIRP is a key part of your cyber resilience strategy. Backed by a Managed IT Services provider like ADITS, your CIRP becomes a proactive, well-practised response, and not just a scramble when things go wrong.

The 6 stages of a cyber security incident response plan

An effective incident response process gives your team a clear and structured path to follow when the unexpected hits. Here’s how each stage works, and how ADITS can support you as part of our Managed IT Services.

     1. Preparation – Set the foundation before an attack happens

The most effective cyber response starts long before an incident occurs. Preparation is all about building internal capability, making sure your people, processes, and technology are ready to respond.

This includes:

• Establishing an incident response team with clearly defined roles and responsibilities.
• Mapping out communication protocols for internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Creating detailed response playbooks for common threat scenarios.
• Conducting simulated attack drills (tabletop exercises).
• Securing and testing backup systems to ensure your data can be recovered.

ADITS supports your preparation by developing tailored response plans, conducting risk assessments, running simulations and ensuring your team knows exactly what to do before an incident ever happens.

    2. Detection & analysis – Spot threats early and understand what’s happening

As soon as something goes wrong, spotting it early makes all the difference in keeping the damage to a minimum. This stage is all about recognising unusual activity, confirming the nature of the threat, and understanding how far it has spread.

This includes:

• Using intrusion detection systems and endpoint monitoring.
• Reviewing system logs and real-time alerts.
• Classifying events to distinguish between actual threats and false positives.
• Determining the scope, origin, and potential impact of the attack.

ADITS enhances your detection and analysis with continuous monitoring, rapid alerts and expert analysis. This allows us to pinpoint threats quickly and start responding right away.

   3. Containment – Stop the threat from spreading

Once a threat is identified, the priority becomes containing it. The goal is to stop further damage while keeping core systems running wherever possible.

This includes:

• Isolating affected devices or network segments.
• Temporarily disabling compromised accounts or access points.
• Blocking malicious IP addresses or ports.
• Applying short-term fixes to keep operations stable.

ADITS steps in fast to contain the threat, using smart network controls and segmentation to stop it from spreading. We do all this while keeping your essential services up and running as much as possible.

    4. Eradication – Remove the threat completely

While containment gives you breathing room, eradication is where the real clean-up happens. This stage is all about wiping out any malicious code, cutting off unauthorised access, and making sure there are no hidden backdoors left behind.

This includes:

• Conducting root cause analysis to identify how the attacker got in.
• Removing malware, suspicious scripts or infected files.
• Resetting credentials and applying security patches.
• Strengthening access controls and system hardening.

ADITS carries out full threat removal, cleansing infected systems, addressing vulnerabilities and helping make sure the threat doesn’t return.

    5. Recovery – Restore systems and return to normal

Once the threat’s been dealt with, it’s time to get your systems back up and running. But it has to be done carefully. The last thing you want is to undo all that progress or spark another incident. 

When done right, recovery not only restores operations but also rebuilds trust with your team, clients and regulators.

This includes:

• Restoring clean backups and double-checking everything’s working as it should.
• Testing systems thoroughly before reconnecting them to your network.
• Keeping an eye out for any signs the threat might still be hanging around.
• Keeping stakeholders in the loop with clear, timely updates.

ADITS manages your recovery end-to-end, restoring your systems, validating your environment, and getting your operations back to full strength quickly and securely.

    6. Lessons learned – Review and strengthen

Once the dust has settled, it’s important to look back and learn. What happened? What went well? What could’ve been handled better? This is where you turn a tough situation into a stronger, smarter defence for next time.

This includes:

• Running a post-incident debrief to walk through the response.
• Updating your cyber incident response plan to reflect what worked, and what didn’t.
• Training your team on any new steps or processes.
• Fixing any compliance issues that cropped up along the way.

ADITS helps you close the loop, leading the post-incident review, updating your plans, and turning the experience into stronger protection for the future.

Why partner with ADITS for incident response?

Tackling cyber threats on your own can stretch your resources thin, particularly without a dedicated security team. With ADITS, you gain more than just reactive support.

You get a strategic partner who helps you:

• Stay ahead of threats with continuous monitoring and real-time alerts.
• Strengthen your environment using proven security frameworks and tailored solutions.
• Respond swiftly and decisively when incidents strike, minimising disruption.
• Rebuild with confidence, backed by expert guidance and long-term protection strategies.

Final thought: Start before the storm hits

As you’ve seen, a solid incident response plan isn’t just an IT task. It’s a key part of keeping your business running when things go wrong. The faster and more confidently you can respond, the less damage you'll face and the quicker you’ll bounce back.

The best time to put a plan in place is before an incident hits. And the best partner to help you do that? A Managed IT Services provider who knows how to protect what matters most, like ADITS.

So, to get the ball rolling and safeguard your business for the long run, reach out to our friendly team today.