Should we report a cyber incident to the police as well as the regulator?

Often yes, but it is a separate decision from regulatory reporting. A ransomware attack, data theft, fraud or extortion is usually a crime, and a criminal complaint can help with insurance claims, with banks trying to recall a fraudulent transfer, and with investigations that link your case to others; some insurers ask for a police reference. A complaint to the police does not replace notifications to the CSIRTCSIRT: computer security incident response team. The national team to which serious incidents are reported., the competent authority or the data protection authority, and those do not replace a complaint. Many countries have specialised cybercrime units or online forms. Before filing, agree with your lawyers and incident-response firm what evidence to hand over and how to preserve it, so you do not destroy what investigators need. NIS2NIS2: the EU's second Network and Information Security directive. The EU cybersecurity law (Directive (EU) 2022/2555) that sets security and incident-reporting duties for many companies. early warnings already ask whether you suspect an unlawful or malicious act; your answer and a police report should be consistent.

General information, not legal advice. National laws can add to the EU texts quoted here, for example deadlines, forms or reporting channels: check your own country's rules.

Read next

Terms used here

CSIRT (computer security incident response team)
The national team to which serious incidents are reported.
NIS2 (the EU's second Network and Information Security directive)
The EU cybersecurity law (Directive (EU) 2022/2555) that sets security and incident-reporting duties for many companies.

← All 35 questions on Incident reporting deadlinesAll topics