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A gripping true story about one ransomware attack and the hands-on lessons you can learn from it In
Locked Up: Lessons Learned from A Real-World LockBit Ransomware Response, veteran IT and cybersecurity executive Zachary Lewis, delivers a gripping, first-person account of how a major university squared off against one of the world's most infamous ransomware groups: LockBit. He walks you through his personal experience battling - and negotiating with - LockBit, as well as the strategies, tools, and approaches he used in resolving the crisis. The book is a detailed, darkly funny, and behind-the-scenes account of an increasingly common and feared event for organizations of all types and sizes. It offers up-to-date advice for people tasked with preventing, responding to, and recovering from ransomware attacks. You'll find:
- Insightful crisis management lessons applicable to both technical and business leaders
- Hands-on technical solutions you can apply to prevent catastrophic data loss during a ransomware event
- Techniques to manage the intense operational, emotional, and interpersonal challenges that arise in the midst of an unexpected crisis
Perfect for IT professionals, cybersecurity leaders, and business decision-makers in higher education, healthcare, government, and nonprofit organizations,
Locked Up is also a must-read for business continuity planners, legal counsel, and anyone else with an interest in real-world cybersecurity.
List of contents
Introduction: The Attack xv
PART I: LEADING TO THE ATTACK 1
Chapter 1: A New Breed of Criminals 3
Chapter 2: Easy Prey 31
Chapter 3: Cybersecurity at UHSP 51
PART II: RESPONDING TO THE ATTACK 67
Chapter 4: The Leadership Response 69
Chapter 5: The War Room 85
Chapter 6: Countdown to the Data Dump 101
PART III: RECOVERING FROM THE ATTACK 115
Chapter 7: The Data Dump 117
Chapter 8: Strengthening Security Post-Attack 133
Chapter 9: Reflections and Lessons Learned 151
PART IV: WHAT ORGANIZATIONS CAN DO 165
Chapter 10: Building a Resilient Cybersecurity Program 167
Chapter 11: Implementing Strong Technical Controls 193
Chapter 12: Responding to a Cyberattack 215
Epilogue: The Calm We Earned 237
Appendix: Cybersecurity Onboarding Checklist:
A 30-60-90-120-Day Plan 241
Acknowledgments 243
About the Author 245
Index 247
About the author
ZACHARY LEWIS is a veteran IT executive with extensive experience in IT management, cybersecurity, risk mitigation, and budget oversight. He's an Assistant Vice President of IT and the Chief Information Security Officer at a private higher education institute.
