Rebuilding Trust after a Cyberattack – Not If but When
Trust is key in all business dealings, but an increasing number of consumers report plummeting trust levels in commercial entities, especially large ones.
In a business landscape that’s becoming less trusting, a #cyberattack can be the final blow that causes customers to take their business elsewhere. Here are some ways to build and maintain trust in your company even if an online security incident takes place.
The three keys to maintaining trust online
There’s no doubt that the internet is becoming increasingly risky, with cyberattacks increasing by the year. Despite advances in antivirus software and efforts to reduce the number of cyberattacks, the prospect of your business losing crucial customer data to cybercriminals is an ever growing reality.
By taking all necessary steps to prevent a cyberattack, responding swiftly and effectively in the event that one takes place, and maintaining a high level of sincere communication with your clients in good times and bad, you can ensure that your business remains a trusted entity for years to come.
Let’s take a look at each of these components in detail.
1. Make cybersecurity a priority and make sure your customers know about it
Covering the basics of antivirus, firewalls, anti-malware, and of course, secure cloud storage is always the first step toward building your cyber defences.
This may give you confidence in your company’s data security, but it will do little to inspire confidence in your customers – unless they know about it.
Without revealing specific details of your cybersecurity activities, which could give cybercriminals hints about potential vulnerabilities, it’s good to let your clients know that you take cybersecurity seriously and are taking measures to protect their data.
2. Act Decisively in the Event of a Cyber Attack
The worst-case scenario for any business is a large-scale data leak or cyber attack, and yet many companies will find themselves in this exact situation over the next decade, if not sooner.
- If your business has become the victim of a cyber attack, the first step is to limit the damage as much as possible by relying on the latest version of your crucial files, which should always be kept securely encrypted in the cloud.
- Directly following the attack, you should make a concerted effort to communicate the situation to your clients and reassure them about the steps you’ll be taking.
3. Communicating for Success Even in a Cybersecurity Failure
The way you communicate with your clients in the hours and days following a cyber attack or data leak could make the difference between a customer who stays with you and one who decides to cut ties.
- Inform them honestly about the situation; there’s no use hiding the fact that the data leak or breach has occurred, and if you do, you could not only lose the trust of your customers but also find yourself in violation of the PPI Act.
- Outline your cybersecurity response plan. Let your customers know what steps you have taken to retrieve their data, as well as precisely what type of data has been compromised—ID numbers, contact details, and more sensitive information like passwords.
- Re-emphasise your commitment to cybersecurity now. Your client may have experienced a cyber leak or breach from another supplier and will be looking for signs that you are constantly upgrading your cyber security.
By outlining the steps your organisation is taking to improve data protection, you are more likely to inspire confidence in your clients and retain more of them in the wake of a cyber attack which could have a massive financial impact on your business.
No matter what strategy you employ to protect your confidential data, secure cloud storage will always end up being a pivotal part of it. To find a cloud storage package that suits your needs perfectly, check out our product page today.