Ransomware Attacks Case Studies Provide Rare Learning Opportunities

Ransomware attacks have become headline news in the mainstream media, and a hot topic not only on this blog but in government circles. And with good reason as the United States suffered a staggering 421.5 million ransomware attempts last year alone, a 98% increase from 2020. This figure comes from United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs new staff report titled “America’s Data Held Hostage: Case Studies in Ransomware Attacks on American Companies.” It details three companies’ experiences responding to attacks by Russia-based ransomware group REvil. The companies varied in size and industry but their previously established incident response plans in place helped mitigate the damage from the attacks. However, the companies reported receiving little assistance from the Federal Government, highlighting the need for change at the federal level to better combat future attacks.