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By Zac Abdulkadir, President and CEO of Netready
July 2, 2025
In late 2023, a mid-sized accounting firm in Los Angeles called us in a panic. They had just discovered that a ransomware attack had locked down every one of their client files two days before tax filing deadlines. The firm had no incident response plan, no designated point person to lead the recovery, and no clear idea who to contact first: their IT specialist, their cyber insurance provider, or the FBI. Every hour without access to data adds to the chaos. Their clients were furious, their team was paralyzed, and leadership had no answers. They were experiencing firsthand what happens when an incident strikes and there is no plan or leader to follow.
This situation, unfortunately, is not unique. Many small and mid-sized businesses lack formal incident response protocols. Worse, they often lack executive-level cybersecurity leadership. That is why a virtual Chief Security Officer (vCSO) is more than a “nice to have.” It is a strategic necessity.
In this article, I will break down why incident response planning is essential, how a vCSO ensures your business is prepared, and what steps you should take before, not after, a cyberattack hits. With over 25 years in cybersecurity, including real-world breach remediation across Pasadena and Riverside, I have seen the difference a plan and a leader can make.
What Is Incident Response Planning?
Incident response planning is the process of preparing for, detecting, containing, and recovering from a cybersecurity event. Whether the event is a ransomware attack, data breach, phishing compromise, or insider threat, having a documented plan allows your team to act quickly and decisively.
A well-structured incident response plan outlines:
- Roles and responsibilities
- Communication protocols
- Legal and regulatory obligations
- Forensic data collection steps
- Recovery strategies
- Post-incident review processes
The plan is not just a document. It is a living framework that requires regular testing and executive oversight. This is where a vCSO adds enormous value.
Why Most Businesses Are Not Prepared
Many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) assume that because they have antivirus software, backups, or a general IT provider, they are covered. But when incidents occur, they quickly realize no one is steering the ship.
The truth is that managed service providers (MSPs) and internal IT staff often lack the strategic authority or crisis experience to lead an incident response. They might help contain a virus, but they are not prepared to coordinate breach notification, communicate with legal counsel, or report to regulators under pressure.
How a vCSO Strengthens Incident Response
- Leadership and Ownership
A vCSO will take full ownership of your incident response strategy. They do not just write a plan. They lead the tabletop exercises, coordinate response actions, and serve as the single point of accountability during a breach. - Customized Planning
At Netready, our vCSOs tailor incident response frameworks to each client’s industry, regulatory requirements, and threat profile. A law firm’s needs differ significantly from a retail chains. A cookie-cutter plan is not enough. - Regulatory Alignment
Data breaches trigger legal obligations. Whether you are subject to the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), or Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), your vCSO ensures your response aligns with those mandates. - Integration with Business Continuity
Incident response is part of a broader business continuity strategy. A vCSO works with your leadership to align cybersecurity response with operational recovery, keeping your business running, not just your systems.
Real-Time Expertise When It Matters Most
During a cyber incident, every minute counts. According to IBM, the mean time to identify a breach remains over 200 days, and the average downtime resulting from ransomware is 21 days. That is three weeks your business might be offline without a plan.
Our vCSOs train staff to recognize threats early, respond swiftly, and escalate appropriately. They also integrate with cyber insurance providers, legal counsel, and law enforcement when needed. One Los Angeles-based client was able to avoid paying a ransom after their vCSO-led team restored systems from segmented backups within hours.
Beyond the Plan: Building Resilience
An incident response plan is not just about surviving an attack. It is about building long-term resilience. With a vCSO, your business:
- Conducts regular tabletop exercises
- Maintains forensic-readiness logging
- Keeps response tools updated and tested
- Analyzes root causes after incidents for continuous improvement
This level of preparation is what transforms security from a reactive burden to a proactive business enabler.
Is Your Business Incident-Ready?
If you had a breach today, could you answer the following?
- Who leads your incident response?
- What is your legal reporting obligation?
- How fast can you restore critical systems?
- Do you know how to reach your cyber insurer?
If you're unsure, you're not alone. That is exactly why so many businesses are turning to vCSOs.
The Road Ahead
As ransomware gangs grow more sophisticated and regulators demand faster breach reporting, incident response can no longer be left to chance. You need a plan, and you need a leader.
A virtual Chief Security Officer brings executive-level oversight to your cybersecurity without the cost of a full-time hire. At Netready, we help businesses in Southern California and beyond turn chaos into control and confusion into confidence.
If you do not have an incident response plan or want to assess the one you do have, let’s talk. Because the best time to prepare is before a breach, not during one.
Lets Discuss Your IT Strategy
Call Us Today 213-463-2100
Book a Free Consultation.
Zac Abdulkadir
President and CEO of Netready
Zac Abdulkadir is a cybersecurity and compliance leader with over two decades of experience helping businesses navigate regulatory change and evolving threats. Featured in Cyber Crime Investigations and author of the bestselling Exposed to Secure, he leads Netready in transforming IT operations into secure, compliant, and business-aligned systems.
