Think about this: you open your computer and before you know it - BAM - there's a message on the screen telling you your files are encrypted, that you cannot access your data, and a countdown timer has started telling you how long you have left to pay the ransom.
In this moment, your instinct is probably to find a way to just get your data back, and often that means considering ways to pay the criminals. But what if there was a better and more secure way forward?
This is not just a technical problem - this is criminal activity at the highest level. Paying a ransom or restoring from a backup is like cleaning up the mess from a burglary, but never knowing how the criminals broke in.
This is why digital forensics ransomware expertise is not an option; it is a requirement. This blog will look at the reasons a full ransomware investigation is your best path forward post-attack, which will not only help you get back to operating, but it will also help mitigate the risk of future attacks.
What is the First Thing to Do After a Ransomware Attack?
The immediate moments after an attack are critical. The first step is to isolate the compromised systems from the network. This is important because you do not want to allow (or increase the risk of) the malware spreading any further.
This is called the containment phase in the incident response lifecycle. Do not shut the systems down or restart them, as this evidence will be erased.
Second, bring in your incident response team and your cyber insurance provider, if you have one.
How a Forensic Investigator Can Assist with a Ransomware Attack
A digital forensics ransomware expert helps you in several ways. A forensic investigator has an objective perspective with scientific methods to cut through the chaos. Mostly, the investigator serves as a detective in the case.
They assist with a ransomware attack in several ways:
Root Cause Analysis: A forensic investigator conducts a root cause analysis to determine how the ransomware made it into your environment in the first place. The root cause of the breach could be any number of things: a weak password, an unpatched vulnerability, or a phishing email. Understanding the door that was opened will give you the knowledge you need to harden your environment against it happening again.
Data Breach Investigation: They will determine if a data breach investigation is warranted. Nowadays, numerous ransomware strains have included a data exfiltration component by taking data prior to encrypting it. If your company has sensitive information, it is very possible that this information is already with your attackers.
Evidence Collection: A ransomware incident response team will preserve and collect digital evidence that the ransomware has left behind. This includes server logs, memory dumps, and network traffic data. Gathering evidence is significant not only to the technical portion of the recovery but the potential legal actions moving forward.
The Technical Process: Beyond Decryption
A thorough post-ransomware forensics analysis is far more detail-filled than just retrieving your files. Below is the technical process:
Forensic Imaging: A forensic professional will do a forensic image of the affected drives, creating an exact (bit-by-bit) copy. This will preserve the original data for the chain of custody and for maintaining the evidence's integrity.
Malware Analysis: The forensic experts will conduct malware analysis to determine the specific strain of ransomware (if known), how it propagates, and what it does. This intelligence is useful to build better defenses in the future.
Threat Hunting: Once experts identify what the original exploit was (initial entry point), they will conduct threat hunting across the entire network to ensure that they didn't leave any other malicious code or backdoors behind.
All of these elements are part of the full ransomware attack analysis and establish helpful information that paying a ransom will never deliver.
To Pay or Not to Pay? That's the Question
Deciding whether to pay ransom is challenging. While there are companies that will negotiate ransomware on your behalf, it isn't always going to be the right thing to do.
There is also no guarantee that they will get you the decryption keys or that your data won't be sold, whether you pay the ransom or not.
The FBI and other government agencies are clear that paying ransom gives cybercriminals a cash flow while contributing to a vicious cycle of repeated and growing attacks.
As long as paying ransom is an option some organizations consider, the risk of business hit through cybercrime will continue.
There is a far more viable option in a complete digital forensics ransomware investigation, which would provide better digital data recovery and safer long-term digital security.
From Recovery to Prevention
A successful ransomware incident response doesn't, and shouldn't, get wrapped up simply in completing recovery from a backup and recovery plan.
The incident, along with any accompanying forensic report, should be used to improve and strengthen your overall security posture. Just as with any investigation, there are takeaways from the investigation that should lead to a change in your cybersecurity practice and a more mature business continuity plan.
That is why "preventing" a ransomware event is even better than having to react to one.
To truly prevent an attack, organizations have to invest time and effort in:
Threat intelligence
Vulnerability assessments
Employee training for cybersecurity awareness
Experienced professionals, like a professional Cyber Security Service Provider, use tools to help organizations become better at prevention. For example, CYBERSICS offers comprehensive security services to help you protect against future ransomware events.
Final Thoughts
Knowing the value that a professional digital forensic investigation provides is key to understanding how far you've really come in recovery after a ransomware event.
It is the only way to attempt to turn a terrible cybercrime into a learning opportunity that strengthens your organization.
