Cyberattack Survival: 5 Critical Steps for First 48 Hours

Picture this: you arrive at the office and something feels off. Systems are slow, emails are failing, and critical files are inaccessible. At that moment, every minute matters. A cyberattack can paralyze your business, expose sensitive data, and lead to millions in losses.

The difference between a temporary disruption and a full-blown disaster lies in how you respond during the first few hours. At TecnetOne, we explain what to do when the alarm goes off and how to act with precision to contain the damage.

Speed Matters

Once an attacker infiltrates your network, the clock starts ticking. Their goal could be data theft, ransomware deployment, or lateral movement within your infrastructure. And every second without response increases the potential damage.

Recent studies show cybercriminals move 22% faster within networks than they did the previous year. Today, the average time from initial breach to broader compromise is just 48 minutes. Some manage it in under 30.

Meanwhile, the global average time to detect and contain an attack is still 241 days, according to IBM. Companies that respond in under 200 days cut recovery costs by over 20%. Speed doesn’t just save data—it saves money.

Read more: What is Incident Response in Cybersecurity?

First Response: What to Do in the First 48 Hours

No organization is entirely safe. But having a clear incident response plan can make all the difference. If you suspect a breach, follow these five essential steps for a fast and effective reaction:

1. Assess the Scope and Gather Information

Start by understanding what happened and activate your incident response (IR) plan. Don’t improvise— a predefined protocol ensures coordinated action without panic.

Your response team should include IT staff, communications, HR, legal, and executive leadership. Everyone has a role, from managing public messaging to evaluating legal risks.

Ask:

1. How did the attacker get in?

1. What systems are affected?

1. What malicious actions were detected?

Log everything. Documenting each step not only helps forensic analysis but also supports legal actions or regulatory reporting. Maintaining the chain of custody is crucial for preserving evidence.

2. Notify Involved Parties

Once the incident is confirmed, transparency is key. Communicate the event clearly and quickly to all relevant stakeholders:

1. Authorities and regulators: If personal data was stolen, reporting is legally required. In Mexico, for instance, the Federal Law on Data Protection mandates disclosure of breaches affecting sensitive data.

1. Insurance providers: Cyber insurance policies often require immediate notification to validate coverage.

1. Clients, partners, and employees: Keeping them informed prevents rumors and builds trust. It’s better they hear from you than from social media.

1. Law enforcement: In cases of ransomware or data theft, reporting can provide useful intel or access to decryption tools.

1. External experts: If you lack an internal cybersecurity team, contact specialists or a managed detection and response (MDR) service.

Prompt and honest communication helps mitigate reputational impact and accelerates recovery.

3. Contain the Attack Without Destroying Evidence

While notifying stakeholders, work to contain the threat. The goal is to isolate the problem without deleting evidence.

1. Disconnect affected systems from the internet, but don’t power them down—you might lose critical data.

1. Disable remote access and reset VPN or suspicious user credentials.

1. Secure your backups—keep them offline to prevent ransomware encryption.

1. Use your security tools (firewalls, EDR, IDS) to block malicious IPs or domains.

Containment should not be done blindly. Every action should be recorded, as it will affect recovery later.

4. Eradicate the Threat and Restore Operations

Once contained, the next step is eradication and recovery. Technical precision is vital.

Run a forensic analysis to understand the full attack path—from entry point to lateral movement or data exfiltration. Based on the findings:

1. Remove any malware, backdoors, or unauthorized accounts.

1. Verify the integrity of critical systems.

1. Restore clean backups, ensuring they haven’t been compromised.

1. Monitor the network for reconnection attempts or attacker persistence.

This phase is also a time to harden your infrastructure. Implement multi-factor authentication, review user privileges, and segment your network to reduce future exposure.

At TecnetOne, we recommend treating this stage as a transformation opportunity: rebuild not just the damaged parts but your entire security strategy.

5. Evaluate, Learn, and Improve

Once the crisis is over, the most important step begins: learning from the experience.

Organize a post-incident review to analyze what worked, what didn’t, and what needs improvement. Review:

1. Was the response plan clear and effective?

1. Were there delays in communication?

1. Were legal and regulatory protocols followed?

1. What new security measures should be implemented?

Update your IR plan based on lessons learned. Create or refine playbooks for various attack types (ransomware, phishing, credential theft), and run regular drills.

Every attack should become a learning opportunity that strengthens your organization’s resilience.

You might also be interested in: Cyberattack Simulations: The Key to Effective Incident Response

Beyond IT: A Shared Responsibility

Responding to a cyberattack isn’t just an IT job. It requires coordination across all departments—communications, legal, HR, executive leadership—and, when necessary, external allies.

If your company lacks 24/7 monitoring or a specialized team, consider a Managed Detection and Response (MDR) service. These solutions offer continuous oversight and immediate reaction to active threats.

At TecnetOne, we always remind clients: the best defense is preparation. Testing your plan before a crisis can mean the difference between containment and catastrophe.

Conclusion: Turning Chaos Into Resilience

No organization is immune to a cyberattack—but every organization can choose how to respond.

The key is speed, precision, and transparency. Ultimately, what defines a secure company isn’t its ability to avoid attacks, but its capacity to respond, recover, and emerge stronger.

At TecnetOne, we help businesses design effective response plans, strengthen defenses, and train their teams to act with confidence—when every second counts.