A global survey of Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) conducted last year depict a concerning cybersecurity landscape. According to the finding, 41% of CISOs identified ransomware as one of the top three cyber threats facing their organizations. Malware followed closely, with 38% highlighting it as a major concern. In addition, nearly 29% pointed to email fraud and DDoS attacks as persistent and growing risks. These statistics highlight the increasing complexity and volume of cyber threats that security leaders must contend with in a constantly evolving digital environment.
But it’s not just the type of attack that’s troubling — it’s their potential for damage. A 2024 vulnerability study revealed that nearly four in ten security flaws in organizations were rated high severity. Moreover, over 6% were critical, meaning they could be exploited with overwhelming consequences. And with another 40% falling into the medium severity category, the risk landscape is crowded with threats waiting to be triggered.
Against this backdrop, even a single misstep in an organization’s incident response process can open the door to serious consequences — from financial losses to reputational damage. Yet, many enterprises continue to fall into the same traps.
Here are the top five incident response mistakes businesses are still making in 2025 — and why avoiding them is more crucial than ever.
1. Lack of a Documented and Tested Incident Response Plan
Having a plan isn’t enough if it’s collecting dust on a shelf. One of the most common cyber incident response errors is failing to document and test the incident response plan regularly.
In 2025, many organizations still don’t conduct simulation exercises or table-top drills. When a real cyberattack hits, confusion and panic set in because team members are unclear about their roles.
Example: A leading UK-based retail firm experienced a cyberattack in April 2025. Attackers impersonated employees to deceive IT help desks into resetting passwords, granting unauthorized access to internal systems. The breach led to substantial operational disruptions, including suspended online orders and stock shortages. The incident underlined the importance of having an up-to-date and tested incident response plan.
Solution:
- Create a detailed, accessible incident response plan.
- Conduct quarterly drills and update the plan based on lessons learned.
- Involve key departments (IT, legal, PR, etc.) in testing scenarios.
2. Inadequate Integration Between Teams and Tools
Even in 2025, many organizations still operate in silos. Security, IT, legal, and communications teams often work separately, which delays crucial actions in a cybersecurity incident response.
Modern security operations depend on cross-functional collaboration and automated tools that work together. If systems and teams aren’t integrated, response time slows down significantly.
Example: A British consumer co-operative with a group of retail businesses, faced a cyberattack where hackers accessed limited member data. The breach caused disruptions in contactless payments and led to stock shortages in several stores. The incident highlighted the challenges arising from inadequate integration between security monitoring tools and IT systems, emphasizing the need for cohesive coordination among departments.
Solution:
- Ensure tools like SIEM, SOAR, and DFIR platforms are well-integrated.
- Promote regular cross-department meetings and joint training sessions.
- Use unified dashboards that give all stakeholders visibility into an ongoing incident.
3. Ignoring Post-Incident Analysis
Once the crisis is over, many organizations breathe a sigh of relief and move on. But skipping post-incident analysis is one of the most overlooked incident response mistakes in 2025.
Post-incident reviews are essential to learn from mistakes, identify root causes, and update your cybersecurity readiness strategy.
Example: A tech company faced repeated DDoS attacks over a six-month period. Each time, they managed to restore services quickly. However, they never performed a post-incident review. Eventually, it was discovered that the same vulnerability had been exploited repeatedly because it was never patched.
Solution:
- Conduct a thorough root-cause analysis after every incident.
- Document lessons learned and share them across teams.
- Update your enterprise incident response plan accordingly.
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4. Underestimating the Importance of Communication
Effective communication during a cyberattack response is crucial. Yet, many enterprises still fail to align internal and external messaging, leading to confusion and reputational damage.
In 2025, with social media playing a larger role in shaping public opinion, poorly handled communication can spiral out of control within minutes.
Example: A leading UK-based retail firm faced criticism for its communication strategy following the April 2025 cyberattack. Initially, the company downplayed the severity of the breach, but it later emerged that sensitive data had been compromised. The inconsistent messaging led to public outrage and regulatory scrutiny, highlighting the critical role of transparent and timely communication during cyber incidents.
Solution:
- Designate a communication lead within your incident response team.
- Prepare pre-approved messaging templates for various scenarios.
- Coordinate between technical teams and PR to ensure consistency.
5. Failing to Train and Educate Employees Regularly
Technology alone can’t defend against cyber threats. Human error remains one of the top causes of breaches, and failing to educate employees is a persistent issue in 2025.
Many enterprises assume that a one-time training or onboarding session is sufficient. This mindset leads to repeated incidents stemming from phishing attacks, weak passwords, or mishandled sensitive data.
Example: Alternate Solutions Health Network experienced a data breach in January 2025 after an employee responded to a phishing email, inadvertently disclosing credentials. The breach allowed unauthorized access to the employee’s email and associated SharePoint accounts. This incident underscores the ongoing need for regular cybersecurity training and awareness programs for employees.
Solution:
- Provide ongoing cybersecurity awareness training.
- Use simulated phishing campaigns to test employee responses.
- Involve staff in incident response drills to increase familiarity.
Conclusion
As cyber threats grow more sophisticated, the old saying rings true: those who don’t learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. The cybersecurity failures of yesterday—be it untested plans, disjointed communication, or undertrained teams—still echo loudly in 2025. But these mistakes aren’t irreversible; they’re opportunities for growth.
Modern security demands more than fragmented alerts and reactive firefighting. It requires coordination, clarity, and control. This is where Cyble’s Incident Management module steps in—consolidating scattered alerts into unified, actionable incidents. It not only simplifies operations but also fosters stronger cross-functional collaboration, minimizes response times, and ensures no threat slips through the cracks.
To build true resilience, organizations must go beyond checking compliance boxes. They need to embrace digital forensics, empower their people, and ingrain continuous learning into their culture. Cyble’s incident response solution acts as both a shield and a guide—helping enterprises navigate complex threats while refining their strategies with every incident.
The next breach shouldn’t be your wake-up call. Make incident readiness a priority today—and transform your security response from a point of failure into a pillar of strength.
