Category: Risk and Compliance

Incident Response Planning in the EU: A Calm, Practical Guide

Posted on by Cindy Martinson

Incident Response Planning in the EU: A Calm, Practical Guide

Why an IRP Matters

A well-designed incident response plan for SMEs turns a bad day into a manageable one. In the EU, it also supports EU cybersecurity governance and compliance by giving teams clear roles, actions, and reporting paths. Regulations like NIS2 and GDPR expect organizations to detect incidents quickly and notify the right authorities when personal data or essential services are affected.

A Simple, Step-by-Step IRP

First, Prepare. Define owners, contact lists, escalation paths, and decision authority. Train staff and run short tabletop exercises. Align the plan with your risk register and policies. (ENISA’s good-practice guide is a helpful reference.)

Next, Identify. Establish how you spot issues: alerts, user reports, or supplier notifications. Require quick triage with basic evidence capture.

Then, Contain. Limit spread using pre-approved actions (isolate devices, revoke credentials, block indicators). Keep logs and notes; they support lessons learned and any regulator queries.

Afterward, Eradicate. Remove malicious code, close the vulnerability, and validate with fresh scans. Document what changed and why.

Then, Recover. Restore from known-good backups, monitor closely, and communicate with customers and partners as needed.

Finally, Learn. Record root causes, update playbooks, and brief leadership. Improve controls and training based on what worked and what didn’t.

Connecting IRP to Governance & Compliance

An IRP operationalizes policy. It links your risk management, roles, and controls to day-to-day action. Crucially, it also embeds EU reporting duties. For personal data breaches, GDPR expects notification to the competent authority “without undue delay” and, where feasible, within 72 hours; your IRP should define how you assess impact and who drafts the notice.
For essential and important entities, NIS2 requires incident handling capabilities and formal incident reporting to national CSIRTs/authorities, so your IRP should map those contacts and timelines.

Professional Support for SMEs

Building an incident response plan for SMEs that truly fits your business can be challenging the first time. Templates are helpful, but every organisation has unique risks, reporting obligations, and resource constraints. This is where seasoned cybersecurity professionals add value.

Our team helps SMEs align IRPs with EU cybersecurity governance and compliance requirements, while keeping the process practical and achievable. We offer a free, no-obligation conversation about your current posture. Together, we can identify where you’re strong, where you’re exposed, and what steps will give you confidence in your first response. Contact us.

With the right guidance, your plan won’t just tick boxes—it will work when you need it most.

Further guidance (external)

Cybersecurity Check-In: What to Do After a Suspicious Click

Posted on by Cindy Martinson

Cybersecurity Check-In: What to Do After a Suspicious Click

Cyber threats evolve fast, so cybersecurity for SMEs must be practical and repeatable. When someone clicks a dodgy link, the difference between a near-miss and a breach is often your incident response policy—clear steps everyone can follow without panic. Social engineering remains a leading cause of breaches, which makes preparation essential for smaller firms with limited resources.

First: Take These Step-by-Step Actions

  1. Report immediately to your IT/security team. Do not delete the email yet; preserve it for analysis. Ireland’s National Cyber Security Centre advises reporting suspicious emails and then removing them—train staff to make reporting the reflex.

  2. Stop further interaction. Do not enter credentials or download files.

  3. Follow containment instructions. Your team may isolate the device, run an antivirus scan, and reset affected passwords, prioritizing accounts reused elsewhere.

  4. Document what happened. Note the time, the email sender, and anything you clicked. This evidence speeds triage and, if needed, law-enforcement reports.

  5. Review and learn. After the threat is handled, hold a brief “lessons learned” review to update playbooks and training. ENISA promotes pragmatic, repeatable practices for cybersecurity for SMEs, including awareness and basic hygiene.

Why Policies and Governance Matter

An incident response policy (Digital Strategy) turns chaos into choreography. It defines who is notified, how to contain threats, and when to escalate. In Europe, the NIS2 Directive (NIS 2 Directive) raises the bar on governance by requiring risk-management measures such as incident handling, business continuity, and staff training. Even if your SME is not directly in scope, aligning to these expectations strengthens resilience and customer trust. 

Build the Foundations That Prevent Repeat Incidents

  • Formalize your playbooks. Write concise SOPs for phishing, ransomware, and account takeover, and tie them to your incident response policy. NIST’s (NIST Publications) widely used lifecycle—preparation, identification, containment, eradication, recovery, and lessons learned—offers a clear structure to adapt. 

  • Train and test. Run quarterly phishing simulations and short refreshers. ENISA’s SME resources (ENISA) provide practical checklists and guidance to raise baseline defenses.

  • Align to regulation. Track NIS2 (ncsc.gov.ie) implementation and adopt its good practices early—policies, oversight, reporting, and supplier due diligence—so you’re ready as national rules mature.

Bottom Line

Clicks happen. With clear steps, staff confidence, and governance aligned to European guidance, SMEs can contain damage quickly and come back stronger. Start by embedding reporting as muscle memory, codify your incident response policy, and use ENISA/NIS2 guidance to mature cybersecurity for SMEs without adding unnecessary complexity. Chat with us about our Security Awareness Training and Governance, Risk and Compliance.

People, Training & The Human Side of Security

Posted on by Cindy Martinson

People, Training & The Human Side of Security

When most people hear the word cybersecurity, they think of firewalls, software, or advanced technology. But the truth is that the greatest risk is often people. Employees can unintentionally open the door to cyber threats through phishing emails, weak passwords, or falling victim to social engineering. This is why cybersecurity awareness training for employees is no longer optional—it is essential.

Why People Are the First Line of Defense

Most cyberattacks are designed to trick people, not machines. Hackers know that it’s easier to manipulate an employee than to break through strong technical defenses. Insider threats, whether accidental or intentional, remain one of the biggest causes of breaches. In fact, phishing is consistently one of the top attack methods used worldwide (Read more here).

Because of this, businesses must view staff as their human firewall. Training and awareness create a workforce that is alert, cautious, and capable of spotting suspicious activity.

What Cybersecurity Awareness Training Looks Like

Cybersecurity awareness training for employees does not need to be overly technical. It is about building practical skills and habits. Training usually covers:

  • How to identify phishing emails.

  • Why strong, unique passwords matter.

  • Safe internet and device use.

  • Reporting procedures if something suspicious happens.

These are everyday skills that every employee, from leadership to frontline staff, can apply.

The Legal and Compliance Side

In Ireland, regulations such as GDPR and NIS2 expect organizations to ensure staff are trained. This is because untrained employees put sensitive data at risk. Failure to follow these rules can result in fines, reputational damage, and even the loss of customer trust. Regulators increasingly see training as part of compliance, not an optional extra (Read about the training requirements here).

Why Training Is Cheaper Than Recovery

Recovering from a breach is expensive. It can include costs from downtime, legal obligations, customer notification, and even ransom payments. In comparison, training is affordable and scalable. A well-trained team reduces the likelihood of breaches and makes incident response smoother when something does happen.

Final Thoughts

Cybersecurity is not just a technology problem. It is a people problem. Businesses that invest in their staff build stronger protection against hackers and reduce compliance risks. In the end, training is not just about meeting regulations—it is about protecting people, customers, and reputation. We train your people so your defense will withstand the attacks.

Understanding Cybersecurity Roles in an SME: Who Does What?

Posted on by Cindy Martinson

Understanding Cybersecurity Roles in an SME: Who Does What?

As digital threats evolve, understanding cybersecurity roles in an SME becomes critical. Many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) assume they’re too small to be targeted—but cybercriminals often see them as easy prey. With limited resources, clearly defined small business cybersecurity responsibilities help SMEs protect sensitive data, stay compliant, and avoid costly disruptions.

Why SMEs Need Defined Cybersecurity Roles

Unlike large corporations, SMEs may not have the budget for a full IT security team. However, this doesn’t eliminate the need for key cybersecurity roles. Instead, individuals in SMEs often wear multiple hats. Establishing roles—no matter how lean your team—is the first step toward accountability and preparedness.

Key Cybersecurity Roles in an SME

Here are some essential roles even the smallest business should consider assigning:

1. Cybersecurity Lead or IT Manager

This person oversees the company’s overall cybersecurity strategy. They ensure security tools are up to date and policies are enforced.

2. Compliance and Risk Officer

Often a shared role, this individual ensures the business complies with regulations like GDPR or the NIS2 Directive. They assess risks and suggest mitigations.

3. Security Awareness Champion

Someone responsible for training staff on phishing, password safety, and social engineering. Awareness is a powerful and affordable defense.

4. Incident Response Coordinator

In the event of a breach, this role activates the response plan, communicates with stakeholders, and manages recovery.

Building a Culture of Security

Small business cybersecurity isn’t just about tools—it’s about people. Whether outsourced or internal, having the right cybersecurity roles in an SME makes a measurable difference in your overall risk posture.

To dive deeper into how small businesses can assign roles effectively, check out this SME cybersecurity role guide from ENISA.