Part 4: Why Business Continuity Starts with Cybersecurity

September 24, 2025 12 Min Read By: Richard Gariepy

We’ve reached Part 4 of our cybersecurity series. Still with us? That’s a good sign.

So far, we’ve covered what makes a strong cybersecurity program, why aligning risk management with business strategy is critical, and how to select the right ally to support your SOC capabilities. We also shared a checklist with the questions to ask a prospective MSSP. This time, we shift focus to what happens when things go sideways and how to ensure they don’t stay that way.

Because even with strong defenses in place, a cybersecurity incident isn’t a matter of if, but when. This article covers how to build cyber resilience into your program so you can respond quickly, recover effectively, and keep your business running with confidence.

The Importance of Cyber Resilience

A breach doesn’t just compromise data — it can bring your business to a halt. Without a business continuity plan, an organization can face significant downtime, financial loss, and long-term reputational damage. Cyber resilience means preparing for these moments in advance, so your team can act fast and stay in control.

We’re not in the habit of fearmongering, but the numbers speak for themselves:

Between 2021 and 2023, data breaches jumped 72%. That’s 2,365 incidents affecting more than 343 million victims and costing an average of $4.88 million per breach as of 2024 (Forbes).
Global cybercrime is expected to hit $10.5 trillion annually by 2025 (Statista).

According to Qualysec’s 2025 forecast, 43% of all attacks target small businesses — and 60% of them go out of business within six months.

John Chambers, former Cisco CEO, once said, “There are two types of companies: those that have been hacked, and those who don’t yet know they have been hacked.” That’s why cyber resilience isn’t optional. It’s essential.

So, what makes you cyber resilient?

Here are the four key elements to bake into your cybersecurity program.

A Proper Security Incident Response Management Process

A structured, proactive incident response process is your first line of defense once a breach has occurred. It defines what actions to take when a threat is detected, who gets involved, and how to document the entire event from triage to resolution.

Too often, businesses assume their infrastructure or help desk teams can handle security incidents just like any other IT issue. But this assumption can be dangerous. These teams are trained to restore service availability as quickly as possible, not to investigate hidden threats or assess future risks.

Think of them as your IT environment’s Dr. Watson — methodical, reliable, focused on immediate symptoms. But when the breach goes deeper, you need a team of Holmes-level investigators to detect, deduce, and resolve the root cause.

A strong incident response process outlines clear roles and responsibilities, identifies where to report suspicious activity, and makes accountability part of the culture. It’s not a fire drill. It’s a living, breathing playbook and everyone needs to know their part.

Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Process

A robust RCA process is the natural next step once a security incident is contained. While incident response puts out the fire, root cause analysis figures out how it started — and how to prevent it from reigniting.

This process should be embedded in your incident response framework, not bolted on after the fact. It ensures major events are reviewed with the same rigor and structure as your day-to-day IT incidents, using a consistent template and methodology.

You’ll want to document the RCA method your team will use. Several trusted approaches include:

5-Whys: Ask “Why?” repeatedly to drill down to the systemic cause.

Ishikawa (Fishbone) Diagram: Categorize root causes across People, Process, Technology, and Environment.

Fault Tree Analysis: Use a top-down approach to unpack complex, multi-layered failures.

These techniques aren’t just theory, they’re essential tools. But to apply them effectively, your team needs access to reliable data. That means integrating automation, machine learning, and AI into your tooling.

Security solutions like SIEM, EDR/XDR, MDR, and continuous vulnerability management help trace the digital breadcrumbs. When linked to threat intelligence feeds, they provide the insight needed to uncover the real reasons behind disruptions and recommend targeted countermeasures.

Business Continuity Planning

Business continuity (BC) is where IT and operations meet. It’s the bridge between risk and resilience.

Your BC plan should map out which business functions are critical, how they depend on IT systems, and what to do if those systems are compromised. It’s your guidebook for keeping the lights on, the data safe, and the business running — even when cyberattacks strike.

Business continuity is powered by the insight you gain from security incidents and RCA work. Together, they help identify which risks matter most and what actions protect your mission-critical functions.

Here’s where to start:

Define your purpose: What must continue, even during an attack?

Map dependencies: What people, processes, and systems support those functions?

Build from frameworks: Use ISO 22301 and NIST CSF as references.

Baseline controls: Start with CIS Critical Security Controls for immediate coverage.

Plan for data resilience: Include backup protocols (3-2-1 rule), encryption, and regular recovery testing.

The more thorough your BC plan, the more confidently your team can respond when the unexpected happens.

Disaster Recovery Scenarios + Procedures

Your disaster recovery (DR) procedures bring the business continuity plan to life.

If your BC plan says what needs to be done, DR scenarios show how to do it. These should cover a range of potential attack vectors and be tested regularly to ensure people, processes, and platforms can respond effectively under pressure.

Testing once or twice a year helps keep the plan current and your teams prepared. It also builds confidence that when a real crisis hits, you won’t be scrambling.

Here’s the critical point: your BC/DR plan is yours. It cannot be outsourced but it can be strengthened through partnership.

Compugen’s security experts help organizations define critical IT operations, document meaningful scenarios, and pressure-test recovery playbooks. Together, we help ensure your business is ready to bounce back, no matter what.

The Last Piece of the Resilience Puzzle

Cyber resilience starts with preparation. By integrating security incident response, root cause analysis, business continuity, and disaster recovery into your cybersecurity program, you’re not just protecting data, you’re protecting the integrity of your business.

Even the most secure organizations will face incidents. What matters is how well you respond. With the right tools, processes, and support in place, you won’t just survive — you’ll recover stronger.

If you need help building or refining these elements, Compugen is ready to partner with you. Our security-focused services, platforms, and managed offerings are built around your business reality and designed to help you maintain confidence in the face of disruption.

Let’s build cyber resilience together. Talk to our experts today.