Here are the key takeaways—and how 4walls can help your organisation build a stronger defence.

“Practice is key. Run simulations.”

One of the expert’s most important points was that simulations are essential for preparing a team to handle ransomware effectively:

“Practice is key. Run tabletop exercises and simulated attacks to test your response plan.”

Ransomware attacks create intense pressure, and having a well-rehearsed plan can mean the difference between recovery and chaos. Tabletop exercises let your team:

• Identify weak points in your current incident response strategy.
• Understand their roles and responsibilities during an attack.
• Improve collaboration between IT, legal, and executives.

4walls offers customised tabletop exercises designed to simulate ransomware and other attack scenarios. These exercises help your team identify vulnerabilities and refine their response plans. Learn more about our incident readiness services here.

“Hackers know your business better than you think.”

The AMA revealed that ransomware groups do extensive research before launching attacks:

“They know how much you can afford to pay and tailor their ransom demands accordingly.”

This level of sophistication means businesses need to get proactive. Attackers often exploit weak links like:

• Unpatched software or outdated systems.
• Weak passwords or poorly managed credentials.
• Lack of multi-factor authentication (MFA).

The 4walls Cyber Security Dashboard provides your business with visibility into these vulnerabilities. By identifying and addressing weak points in your environment, you can significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to an attack. Explore the Cyber Security Dashboard.

“Most businesses don’t even know how to start negotiating.”

The expert shared that businesses often lack the expertise to deal with ransomware demands:

“Negotiating is a last resort. Prevention is always better.”

This underscores the importance of focusing on prevention and preparation to avoid being in a position where negotiation is necessary. Some critical preventative measures include:

• Regular, tested backups stored offline.
• Comprehensive phishing awareness training for employees.
• Advanced incident response planning.

4walls specialises in phishing simulations that train your employees to spot and report phishing attempts, a common entry point for ransomware. Learn about our phishing simulations.

“It’s not just about recovery—it’s about survival.”

When asked about the broader impact of ransomware, the expert said:

“It’s not just the ransom. It’s the downtime, the reputational damage, and the regulatory fines.”

Recovering from ransomware is about more than restoring systems—it’s about ensuring your organisation can operate and maintain trust with customers and stakeholders. A well-executed cybersecurity strategy can:

• Reduce downtime during incidents.
• Avoid fines by meeting regulatory requirements.
• Protect your reputation from long-term damage.

4walls provides Cyber Governance Principles Training for executives and boards, helping them understand their critical role in overseeing cybersecurity strategy and incident response. Learn more about our training programs.

Take Action Before It’s Too Late

The insights from this AMA reinforce a vital truth: the best way to handle ransomware is to prepare for it before it happens.

Here’s how 4walls can support your organisation:

• Tabletop Exercises: Simulate ransomware scenarios to refine your incident response plans.
• Cyber Security Dashboard: Gain full visibility into vulnerabilities and risks in your environment.
• Phishing Simulations: Train employees to recognise and report phishing attempts.
• Cyber Governance Principles Training: Equip leadership with the knowledge to manage cyber risks effectively.

Don’t wait for an attack to take action. Contact us today to discuss how we can help protect your organisation.