A data breach can trigger much more than an IT investigation.
For healthcare practices and other businesses handling sensitive information, the first 72 hours may involve assessing what happened, protecting systems, notifying patients or clients, and determining whether the OAIC needs to be informed.
In this InfoByte
The first 24 hours
The first priority is confirming what has happened.
The affected systems need to be identified, evidence preserved, and the scope of the incident understood before decisions are made.
Your IT provider should also be involved early. Their role is not just to restore systems, but to investigate how the incident occurred, determine what information may have been affected, and help contain the issue.
Did you know? Many data breaches begin with phishing emails or stolen login credentials.
If you’d like to learn more about how these attacks work, the Australian Federal Police explains the basics in this short video.
You may also be interested in our InfoByte Unusual Messages, Login Alerts and Signs Your IT Is at Risk, which explains some of the early warning signs businesses often overlook.
Do patients or clients need to be notified?
It depends.
Under Australia’s Notifiable Data Breaches (NDB) scheme, organisations need to assess whether the breach is likely to result in serious harm.
This assessment generally considers things such as:
- What information was involved?
- Was the information encrypted or otherwise protected?
- Who may have accessed it?
- How likely is it that the information could be misused?
If serious harm is likely, the organisation may need to notify both the OAIC and the people whose information has been affected.
For a healthcare practice, this could include patient details, clinical records, or other sensitive personal information.
For other businesses, it may involve financial records, identification documents, or confidential client information.
Having a documented response plan before an incident occurs means everyone understands their role, who needs to be contacted, and how notifications will be managed.
The next 48 hours
Once the immediate situation has been contained, attention turns to understanding the full impact.
This may include identifying exactly what information was involved, documenting decisions, preparing any required notifications, and safely restoring normal business operations.
Good record keeping throughout the process can also support future reviews and demonstrate how the incident was managed.
The OAIC provides a practical Data Breach Response Plan that businesses can use when developing or reviewing their own procedures.
Could Your Business Respond Today?
Select all statements that apply to your business readiness.
A conversation with Quo Group can help you review your current procedures and better prepare your business before an incident occurs.
Preparing before something happens
Preparation does not need to be complicated.
A few practical steps include:
- Maintain tested backups.
- Review user access levels regularly.
- Make sure staff know how to report suspicious activity.
- Document who is responsible for responding to incidents.
- Review your response plan periodically.
Not sure who should report an IT or cyber security issue? Read our InfoByte When Something Goes Wrong With IT, Who Do You Tell?
It’s also good to know who has access to your business systems and why regularly reviewing permissions helps reduce unnecessary risk.
Preparation makes the first 72 hours easier
The first few days after discovering a data breach often involve technical investigations, business decisions, patient or client communication, and regulatory obligations all at once.
Having a clear response plan and trusted IT support helps everyone understand what happens next.
If you’d like a professional review of your current response procedures, Quo Group is always happy to provide practical advice and an experienced perspective.
