The First 24 Hours After You Discover a Breach — Every Decision Matters
Action Guide Incident Response May 2026 · 8 min read The attacker had 72 minutes to get in and take what they needed. You have 24 hours to contain it, notify the right people, and make decisions that determine whether your business survives the next six months. Most SMB owners have never thought through a single one of those decisions. Here's what the clock looks like from your side. The previous post in this series covered what attackers do in the first 60 minutes after they get your credentials. This one covers what you need to do in the 24 hours after you find out it happened. The asymmetry is brutal. The attacker had a script — automated tools, practiced playbooks, and a clear sequence from initial access to exfiltration. You have confusion, fear, and a phone full of notifications you don't know how to prioritize. The businesses that survive breaches aren't the ones who respond perfectly. They're the ones wh...