Cyber incidents move fast, and confusion in the first few hours is expensive. Your aim on the first day is not to “solve everything,” but to stop the bleeding, preserve evidence, and follow the notification steps your policy and internal governance expect.

Many Cyber insurance policies also bundle “first response” support, such as forensics, legal guidance, PR help, and breach notification coordination, but they work best when you loop in the right people early and don’t overwrite the evidence.

Bite-Sized Checklist For The First 24 Hours Of Cyber Incident:

1. Declare an incident and appoint an owner: Name one internal incident lead and start an incident log with timestamps
2. Contain without destroying evidence: Isolate affected endpoints or servers from the network, but avoid wiping or reimaging devices on day one
3. Preserve logs and snapshots: Secure firewall, IAM, endpoint, email, and cloud logs; take backups of key systems before changes
4. Triage what’s impacted: Identify affected data sets, apps, payment rails, or customer journeys, and confirm if the incident is still active
5. Notify your broker and insurer early: Many Cyber insurance policies are sensitive to late notification, so early notification reduces avoidable disputes
6. File a police or cyber‑cell complaint where needed: A formal complaint is commonly expected in cyber claim processes in India
7. Use approved experts where possible: Insurers often expect investigations by qualified forensic specialists and may have preferred panels
8. Control communications: Send one internal instruction to staff, stop ad‑hoc WhatsApp forwards, and route external statements through a nominated spokesperson
9. Capture proof of loss as it forms: Vendor invoices, downtime evidence, incident‑related expenses, customer communication costs, and recovery work
10. Don’t negotiate alone: If extortion is involved, involve legal and cyber specialists early and follow policy conditions

Keep It Practical: Your best “claim hygiene” is a clean timeline. A short incident log, preserved logs, and early intimation make it easier for forensic teams and insurers to verify what happened.

Cyber insurance strengthens resilience in the banking and fintech industry. With clean documentation, timely notification, and expert response, businesses reduce disputes, protect assets, and ensure smoother claim settlements after cyber incidents.