When ransomware strikes, the immediate aftermath is critical. Knowing exactly what steps to take can significantly impact recovery and minimize further damage. The first and most urgent action is to isolate the affected systems. Disconnect the infected computer or device from the network, whether wired or wireless, to prevent the ransomware from spreading to other systems or network drives. This containment is paramount.
Next, it’s vital to engage your incident response plan. This might involve your internal IT security team or require contacting external cybersecurity experts specializing in ransomware recovery. They can help assess the scope of the attack and guide the remediation process. Simultaneously, it is strongly recommended to report the incident. Contacting law enforcement and relevant government cybersecurity agencies is crucial. This not only helps potential investigations but also contributes to understanding and combating larger threat trends.
A thorough assessment of the impact is necessary. Determine which systems, data, and services have been affected. This helps prioritize recovery efforts. While the thought of paying the ransom might arise, the general recommendation from cybersecurity experts and law enforcement is to avoid paying the ransom. There is no guarantee that paying will result in receiving a working decryption key, and it often encourages further attacks.
Focus instead on data recovery from secure, offline backups. If you have recent, tested backups stored separately from the infected network, restoring from them is often the most effective way to regain access to your data without involving the attackers. Ensure that any system you restore data onto has been thoroughly cleaned and verified as free from malware.
Throughout this process, preserve evidence where possible. This can aid forensic analysis by your incident responders and law enforcement. Finally, once recovery is underway, prioritize strengthening your defenses. Implement enhanced security measures, improve patching practices, reinforce access controls, and conduct cybersecurity awareness training for staff to prevent future attacks. Acting quickly and following these steps provides the best path forward after a ransomware incident.
Source: https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2025/06/06/ransomware_negotiation/
