5 tips in cyber resilience from Vili’s Family Bakery

Make cyber security reviews part of your business routine. Following the attack, Alison recommends carrying out checks every six months, rather than waiting until something goes wrong.

Think about the work your business relies on and how you would manage without your usual systems. At Vili’s, office staff returned to handwritten invoices, while experienced employees used their knowledge of daily production needs to keep the bakery operating.

The experience reinforced the importance of preparing and improving your cyber security while business is going well, so you’re better placed to manage difficult times.

When a challenge falls outside your expertise, seek professional advice from someone experienced in that area. Alison highlights the importance of getting help with issues you aren’t equipped to resolve yourself, rather than trying to manage them alone.

Exchange experiences with other business owners, whether through your existing contacts or a business peer group.

During the recovery, Alison contacted around 20 business owners and was surprised by how many had experienced a similar incident. They shared advice and offered help without judgement. She also describes the knowledge exchanged regularly through business peer groups as invaluable.

Rebuilding can take time. Vili’s needed about 18 months to fully rebuild its information, and Alison describes resilience as something developed through experience.

Her advice is to be patient with the recovery process and use the experience to strengthen your business.

Watch Alison’s video to hear more about Vili’s Family Bakery’s recovery and her advice for other business owners.