In an era when cyber threats multiply daily, IT leaders are frequently told: “invest in the latest tools, automate defensively, keep your systems patched.”
That advice is sound — but it misses one critical layer. According to the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), organisations must ensure they have a paper-based contingency plan as part of their cyber resilience plan to respond effectively to cyber-attacks.
The Warning from the NCSC
The NCSC has urged organisations to look beyond purely technical defences, emphasising that resilience is about more than preventing intrusion. In their latest guidance, they highlight “resilience engineering” — designing systems so that, even when breaches occur, core functions remain intact. But resilience isn’t just about systems and infrastructure; it’s also about human decisions, communication, and readiness under pressure.
Many companies now rely on automated systems to guide response and recovery. Yet the NCSC warns that defenders often forget the value of a written, physical plan. When systems fail — whether due to ransomware, network outages or infrastructure collapse — digital dashboards and recovery tools may become inaccessible. A printed cyber resilience plan ensures that response teams still have actionable guidance when screens fail.
This renewed focus on resilience follows a sharp rise in serious cyber incidents reported across UK businesses. Organisations are being reminded that even the most advanced technology cannot replace simple, well-practised manual procedures when a breach disrupts core systems.
What a Cyber Resilience Plan Should Include
A robust cyber resilience plan is not purely a technical document. It’s a hybrid of strategy, communication, and contingency — and crucially, it should exist both digitally and on paper. Core components should include:
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Roles and responsibilities: Clear identification of who takes charge if digital comms fail, including mobile contact details.
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Escalation paths and decision triggers: Defined thresholds for involving leadership or external partners.
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Critical system recovery priorities: A ranked order of what systems or data must be restored first.
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Communication protocols: Alternative ways to notify staff, customers and partners when normal channels are down.
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Access and lockdown procedures: Manual methods to revoke access or isolate compromised systems.
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Verification steps: Regular reviews to ensure the written plan matches its digital counterpart.
The aim is simplicity. During an incident, responders need concise, visual direction — something that can be accessed immediately without relying on power, connectivity, or credentials.
Why Many Organisations Overlook It
Many organisations overlook the value of a printed cyber resilience plan because it feels outdated. They assume digital systems and cloud backups provide sufficient redundancy. However, that assumption overlooks one reality: crises rarely follow predictable patterns.
A ransomware attack can encrypt digital playbooks. A DDoS attack can disable monitoring tools. Even a regional power failure can make your online documentation unreachable. In such moments, a physical copy becomes a vital resource — ensuring continuity of action when everything else stalls.
Committing a plan to paper also forces clarity. When instructions must be written concisely, teams often discover unnecessary complexity or missing detail. The discipline of distilling actions into a few pages strengthens both understanding and execution.
Practical Steps to Strengthen Your Cyber Resilience Plan
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Condense your existing response framework into a concise “battle card” — a printed summary of essential decisions and contact points.
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Test the plan manually by running exercises where staff rely solely on printed guidance. This will expose any hidden dependencies on digital systems.
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Maintain version control by dating each document and conducting periodic updates. Ensure printed and digital versions stay synchronised.
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Distribute securely to all key personnel. Keep copies in protected but accessible locations such as safes or emergency cabinets.
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Review quarterly to adapt to changes in infrastructure, staff, or threat environment.
These actions transform your Cyber Resilience Plan from a compliance document into a living framework for operational continuity.
The Business Value Of A Strong Cyber Resilience Plan
A comprehensive, well-tested cyber resilience plan builds confidence across every layer of the business. It delivers:
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Board-level assurance that the organisation is prepared for disruption, not just prevention.
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Compliance readiness by providing tangible, auditable proof of resilience strategies.
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Operational clarity when teams must act quickly without access to digital systems.
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Collaborative alignment across IT, communications, operations, and legal functions.
These benefits extend beyond crisis scenarios. They demonstrate to stakeholders, insurers and clients that the business treats resilience as a strategic priority, not a reactive measure.
How Akita can help
Akita’s cyber security consultants works with organisations to develop cyber resilience plans that safeguard operations against disruption.
Our experts create tailored incident response frameworks combining digital and physical contingencies, ensuring your teams can act effectively even when systems go offline.
Through our cyber security and business continuity services, Akita helps identify vulnerabilities, strengthen recovery processes and run practical simulations that test resilience under real-world conditions. Whether mitigating ransomware risk, developing response documentation, or reinforcing endpoint protection, Akita ensures your organisation remains operational and compliant.
True resilience is not just about technology — it’s about foresight, planning and the ability to adapt. Akita’s consultants work across cloud infrastructure, networks and governance frameworks to ensure your Cyber Resilience Plan is comprehensive, current and actionable.
To discuss strengthening – or creating – your organisation’s cyber resilience plan, contact Akita’s cyber security team today:
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