HOUSING ASSOCIATION: Incident Response, Made Simple

The Company

This housing association, operating across South Lanarkshire, has been serving remote communities since the late 1980s. With a mission rooted in addressing housing shortages and revitalising economically challenged areas, the organisation now owns and manages over 700 homes across 16 towns and villages.

When it came to strengthening their cyber security posture, particularly around incident response, the organisation needed a partner that understood the realities of working with a small team. They turned to KubeNet for support in delivering a tailored, jargon-free incident response plan and practical tabletop exercises designed for non-technical audiences that would improve security and achieve compliance standards.

Approach and Solutions

KubeNet’s cyber team worked closely with the customer to

thoroughly understand their specific needs and challenges. Through a series of initial engagement calls, we captured their

requirements and ensured that the solution would be practical, tailored, and accessible for their staff. To create the most effective response plan, we developed multiple drafts in collaboration with the client, refining the policy to ensure it fully reflected their

expectations and operations.

For the tabletop exercises, our cyber team moved away from generic scenarios and instead developed three bespoke situations specific to the housing association’s context. This allowed staff to engage with the exercises in a meaningful way, ensuring they could relate to the scenarios and better prepare for real-world cyber threats.

We created a positive, open environment where no question was considered too basic, encouraging staff participation and making the exercise a valuable learning experience.

The Objective

The primary objective of this project was to develop a tailored and accessible cyber incident response strategy that would empower staff with the knowledge and confidence to effectively manage cyber threats. Our goal was to:

• Provide tailored content that matches the needs and requirements of their organisation - ensuring no one-size-fits-all policies.

• Provide clear, accessible guidance suitable for non-technical staff.

• Support the identification of key cyber risks, roles, and communication pathways in the event of an incident.

• Deliver an engaging, jargon-free tabletop exercise to help staff practice realistic scenarios and build confidence in response capability.

The Challenge

The primary challenge for the organisation was budgetary constraints. Traditional cyber security solutions proved to be too expensive and overly technical, making it difficult for the housing association to find a solution that met both their budget and their specific needs.

Their bespoke requirements did not align with standard industry

offerings, leading to frustration and difficulty in finding the right fit. The organisation required a practical, jargon-free incident response plan that could be tailored to their operations and support staff’s current level of understanding of handling potential cyber threats.

Conclusion

Through a collaborative and tailored approach, KubeNet supported this housing association in developing a cyber incident response strategy that was both practical and accessible. By focusing on clear communication, realistic scenarios, and a non-technical delivery style, our cyber team helped the organisation build internal

confidence and capabilities without exceeding budget limitations.

The result was a fit-for-purpose response plan and training approach that empowered staff, improved preparedness, and aligned with the unique needs of this customer.