Cyberattacks: Must-Haves for a Crisis Communication Plan
By Julia Petryk for PRNews
This spring, the second-largest telecommunications company in the United States, AT&T, fell victim to cyberattacks, twice. These breaches led to hackers accessing call records and messages from over 100 million people. At first, the company concealed information about the data breach, but once it became public, AT&T’s stock value dropped—potential losses were estimated at $43-90 million—and the company faced widespread criticism in both the media and on social networks.
This incident highlights that even the largest and most secure corporations are vulnerable to cyberattacks.
Ukraine has learned this lesson like no other. In 2023, government organizations, critical infrastructure and companies faced over 2,500 major cyberattacks—an average of nearly eight per day. The country has become a primary target for hackers from Russia, which confidently leads the global “Cybercrime Index.” Recently, Ukraine’s experience laid the foundation for the Trident cyber training program by the U.S. Cyber Ranges.
Concealing a cyber incident not only demonstrates a company’s unpreparedness for crises, but also damages its reputation and leads to significant long-term financial losses. Instead, consistent and transparent communication can mitigate losses, preserve reputation and maintain customer loyalty. This is why every company should include a cyber incident communication plan in its crisis strategy.
In 2024, the average data breach cost victim organizations a record-high $4.88 million, according to an IBM report. Meanwhile, the number of cyberattacks increased by 72% from 2021 to 2023. When a crisis unfolds and users’ personal data is at risk to be compromised, companies cannot afford to waste time deliberating their next communication steps. Preparing for cyber incidents in advance is essential, and the communications team must be an integral part of the crisis plan.
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