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Ransomware Response Playbook

Comprehensive response procedures for ransomware attacks, from detection to recovery.

Multiple days6 steps10 checklist items

Summary

Complete guide for responding to ransomware incidents including containment, negotiation considerations, and recovery strategies.

Step-by-Step Procedure

1

Immediate Containment

Stop the ransomware from spreading while preserving evidence.

Actions

Isolate affected systems at the network level immediately
Do NOT power off systems - preserve memory for forensics
Disable shared drives and network shares
Block known ransomware C2 domains and IPs at firewall
Preserve at least one encrypted system for analysis
2

Scope Assessment

Determine the full extent of the attack.

Actions

Identify all affected systems and data
Determine the ransomware variant
Assess backup integrity and availability
Identify patient zero and initial access vector
Check for data exfiltration indicators
3

Executive Notification

Brief leadership on the situation.

Actions

Notify CISO and C-suite immediately
Engage legal counsel and cyber insurance
Prepare initial impact assessment
Establish executive communication cadence
4

Recovery Planning

Develop and execute recovery strategy.

Actions

Assess backup viability and recovery time
Prioritize systems for recovery by business impact
Check for decryptors (nomoreransom.org)
Prepare clean systems for restoration
Plan parallel recovery tracks
5

Ransom Decision

Evaluate ransom payment considerations.

Actions

Consult with legal, insurance, and executive team
Understand regulatory implications of payment
Assess likelihood of recovery without payment
Evaluate double extortion risk
Document decision-making process
6

Recovery Execution

Execute the recovery plan.

Actions

Rebuild affected systems from clean images
Restore data from verified clean backups
Implement additional security controls
Monitor closely for re-infection
Gradually restore business operations

Completion Checklist

All affected systems identified and isolated
Ransomware variant identified
Backup status verified
Executive team briefed
Legal and insurance engaged
Law enforcement notified (if required)
Recovery plan developed
Ransom decision documented
Systems rebuilt and restored
Post-incident review completed

Evidence to Collect

  • Ransom note
  • Encrypted file samples
  • System memory dumps
  • Network logs showing lateral movement
  • Initial access indicators
  • Communication with threat actor (if any)

Communication Templates

  • Executive briefing template
  • Employee notification
  • Customer notification (if required)
  • Regulatory notification (if required)

Join our community to discuss playbooks and share incident response experiences.