Why cyber incident response needs to be a priority, not a project for ‘later’
The recent cyber-attack affecting M&S and other well-known brands is a stark reminder: incidents don’t just happen to someone else. And they certainly don’t wait until your business is ready to respond.
Cyber threats are everyone’s problem
We’re in a moment where cyber resilience is being tested across every industry. The headlines are clear - no business is immune, regardless of size, sector, or sophistication. The difference between a contained incident and a full-blown crisis often comes down to a single factor: preparation.
Cyber threats are no longer theoretical. And treating them as such is no longer viable.
Incident response isn’t optional
This is why Cyber Incident Response Plans (CIRPs) are no longer “nice to have.” They’re essential. Yet many organisations still approach incident response as an afterthought - something to be sorted once other priorities are ticked off the list.
Often, companies will have cybersecurity tools in place - firewalls, antivirus, or endpoint detection - but no defined process for what to do when something goes wrong. In a real incident, that lack of clarity costs time, trust, and revenue.
What a good incident response plan looks like
A CIRP is far more than a static document gathering dust. It’s a live operational strategy that guides your team from the first sign of a problem all the way through to full recovery.
It should:
Define clear roles and responsibilities
Outline escalation procedures
Include communication protocols (internal and external)
Be regularly tested through realistic simulations
Cover both containment and recovery strategies
A good CIRP enables your team to act fast, communicate clearly, and minimise impact - even when the pressure is on.
Preparation makes all the difference
Even with the best tools and preventive measures, incidents still happen. The question isn’t if - it’s how well you’ll respond when they do.
At Zenzero, we’ve been working with businesses to strengthen their response capabilities - particularly in light of recent high-profile incidents. That includes building realistic response plans, running threat simulations, and embedding secure recovery practices.
We also provide ongoing services like live threat monitoring, penetration testing, and team training, tailored to reflect the risks your business actually faces - not just theoretical best practices. Explore our cyber security solutions here.
Why work with Zenzero
Cyber security isn't just about technology - it’s about having the right people, processes, and preparation in place. We combine deep technical expertise with a practical, people-first approach. We don’t just hand over a template and walk away. We work closely with your team to build and embed an incident response capability that works in the real world, under real pressure.
Whether you’re starting from scratch or strengthening an existing plan, we tailor our support to your risk profile, sector, and operational reality - so you’re not just compliant, but genuinely resilient.
Don’t wait until it’s too late
We’ve seen first-hand how the right preparation can turn a major threat into a manageable event. And we’ve also seen the costly consequences when that preparation is missing.
If your CIRP is outdated, untested, or still sitting on the backlog, now is the time to act.
We’re helping organisations take proactive steps toward resilience - before they’re forced to learn the hard way.
Read how we help with cyber incident readiness here.