{"id":3229,"date":"2025-05-19T13:58:38","date_gmt":"2025-05-19T13:58:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cybersecurityinfocus.com\/?p=3229"},"modified":"2025-05-19T13:58:38","modified_gmt":"2025-05-19T13:58:38","slug":"building-a-ransomware-response-plan-with-fidelis-elevate-xdr-technical-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cybersecurityinfocus.com\/?p=3229","title":{"rendered":"Building a Ransomware Response Plan with Fidelis Elevate XDR: Technical Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Ransomware attacks are projected to occur every 2 seconds by 2031, up from every 11 seconds in 2021. Organizations paid approximately $813.55 million to ransomware groups in 2024. Email <\/span>remains<\/span> the primary attack vector, with malicious attachments twice as common as phishing links. Organizations with compromised backups face $3M average recovery costs, with 45% requiring more than a month to recover. Active ransomware groups increased 55% from Q1 2023 (29) to Q1 2024 (45).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Ransomware Attack Methodology: MITRE ATT&CK Framework<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Modern ransomware attacks follow a systematic approach:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Reconnaissance<\/span>: Information gathering about target systems<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Resource Development<\/span>: Creating tools and establishing infrastructure<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Initial Access<\/span>: Entry via phishing, vulnerabilities, compromised credentials<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Execution<\/span>: Running malicious code in the target environment<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Persistence<\/span>: Establishing backdoors for sustained access<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Privilege Escalation<\/span>: Gaining higher system permissions<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Defense Evasion<\/span>: Bypassing security controls<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Credential Access<\/span>: Stealing authentication credentials<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Discovery<\/span>: Mapping environment for valuable assets<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Lateral Movement<\/span>: Spreading through network<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Collection<\/span>: Gathering sensitive data<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Command and Control<\/span>: Establishing communication channels<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Exfiltration<\/span>: Transferring data to attacker-controlled locations<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Impact<\/span>: Deploying ransomware encryption<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Response Plan Components with Fidelis Elevate XDR<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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1. Preparation Phase<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Asset Inventory and Risk Assessment:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Implement continuous terrain mapping for asset inventory<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Apply risk profiling for critical systems identification<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Deploy Network Detection and Response (NDR)<\/a> across all ports\/protocols<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Security Controls:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Deploy Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)<\/a> on all endpoints<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Implement Deception technology for early attacker detection<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Configure Active Directory<\/a> Intercept for AD vulnerability mitigation<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Backup Strategy:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Establish offline\/secure backups with frequent updates<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Monitor data traffic for backup sabotage attempts<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Test recovery processes regularly<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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2. Detection Phase <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Real-Time Monitoring:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Configure XDR across all environments<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Utilize Deep Session Inspection for nested files and encrypted traffic<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Leverage MITRE ATT&CK integration for ransomware pattern identification<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Threat Hunting:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Search for indicators of compromise (IoCs)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Use anomaly detection for early-stage activity<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Analyze metadata from previous sessions for malware exposure<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Incident Triage:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Correlate alerts across multiple detection points<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Validate incidents between endpoint and network data<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Use Deception technology for high-fidelity alerts<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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3. Containment Phase<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Rapid Isolation:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Quarantine compromised systems via automated response<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Implement pre-configured containment playbooks<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Block command-and-control communications<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Limiting Lateral Movement:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Deploy deception breadcrumbs and decoys<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Monitor for credential theft and suspicious account activities<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Implement network segmentation based on visibility data<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Preventing Data Exfiltration:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Utilize data loss prevention capabilities<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Analyze for abnormal data transfers in real-time<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Monitor cloud environments for unauthorized access<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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4. Eradication Phase <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Malware Removal:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Identify and remove ransomware binaries<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Perform retrospective analysis for persistence mechanisms<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Analyze suspicious files for behavior determination<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Security Gap Remediation:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Detect system misconfigurations<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Implement immediate patching and hardening<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Remediate AD-related vulnerabilities<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Credential Reset:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Identify compromised credentials through usage pattern monitoring<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Reset passwords and implement stricter access controls<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Review security permissions using least privilege principle<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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5. Recovery Phase<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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System Restoration:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Restore from clean backups verified by integrity monitoring<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Prioritize restoration based on asset criticality<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Implement phased system recovery approach<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Verification and Monitoring:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Scan restored systems thoroughly<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Implement continuous monitoring for reinfection detection<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Deploy Deception to identify persistent attacker presence<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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6. Post-Incident Phase<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Forensic Analysis:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Analyze attack timeline using metadata collection<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Identify initial access vector and attack progression<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Document tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Lessons Learned:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Identify security control gaps<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Review containment measure effectiveness<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Update security policies based on findings<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Your Complete Ransomware Defense Blueprint, Powered by Fidelis XDR<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Download the Fidelis guide to building a resilient ransomware defense framework with integrated XDR.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRansomware trends and tactics<\/span><\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMITRE ATT&CK-aligned detection and response strategies<\/span><\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tXDR-driven best practices<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDownload the Whitepaper<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Key Fidelis Elevate XDR Capabilities<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Comprehensive Visibility and Contextual Mapping<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFidelis Elevate provides continuous cyber terrain mapping and risk analysis, enabling organizations to maintain a real-time inventory of all assets-including managed and unmanaged devices, network traffic across all ports and protocols, and cloud resources.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Patented Deep Session Inspection<\/a>\u00ae delivers granular content and context beyond standard netflow, eliminating blind spots and enhancing network data loss prevention (DLP)<\/a>.<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Integrated Deception Technology<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe platform employs deception techniques such as traps, decoys, and breadcrumbs to lure attackers, reveal their presence, and divert them from real assets.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Deception is dynamically deployed, increasing attacker costs and risks while giving defenders the advantage to study attacker behavior and fortify defenses.<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Unified Detection and Response Across Domains<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFidelis Elevate integrates mature network, endpoint, and deception capabilities, offering holistic visibility and control across networks, endpoints, cloud, and users.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Real-time and retrospective analysis on rich metadata enables detection and response at every step of the attack kill chain, including advanced threats and lateral movement.<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Active Directory Defense<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe platform uniquely provides comprehensive Active Directory defense, <\/span>identifying<\/span> misconfigurations, <\/span>monitoring<\/span> for exploitation (e.g., brute force, abnormal ticket requests), and offering remediation interfaces.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Automated, Contextual Threat Detection and Response<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAutomated defenses detect and alert in real-time, with instrumentation and monitoring across all environments (on-premises, cloud, hybrid).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Automated playbooks and AI\/ML-powered detections accelerate investigation, containment, and recovery.<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Open XDR Architecture and Integration<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFidelis Elevate is an open XDR solution<\/a>, supporting integration with third-party EDR and security tools, preserving existing security investments and enabling flexible, tailored deployments.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>The CommandPost interface centralizes security configuration, management, and retrospective analysis.<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Proactive Threat Hunting and Intelligence<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe platform <\/span>leverages<\/span> MITRE ATT&CK mappings, threat intelligence, and machine learning for predictive analysis, enabling proactive threat hunting and early-stage ransomware detection.<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Provides deep endpoint visibility, automated investigation, rapid quarantine, and on\/off-network protection.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Data Loss Prevention and Exfiltration Control<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCombines threat detection, asset discovery, and deception to prevent data exfiltration<\/a>, <\/span>leveraging<\/span> powerful DLP and anti-malware engines.<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Operational Benefits<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t360\u00b0 threat visualization, automated correlation of weak signals, and consistent policy enforcement across the enterprise.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Multi-faceted professional support and role-based training resources.<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Implementation Best Practices<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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1. Establish Clear Command Structures<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDefine roles and responsibilities for all stakeholders involved in incident response.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Set up escalation procedures based on alert severity and create decision matrices for critical actions.<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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2. Develop and Maintain Response Playbooks <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCreate detailed, scenario-specific response playbooks for ransomware and related threats.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Automate common response actions and regularly test playbooks through exercises and simulations to ensure readiness.<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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3. Enable Continuous Monitoring and Threat Hunting <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tImplement real-time and retrospective analysis to detect both known and emerging threats.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Regularly update detection rules and conduct periodic assessments of security controls to adapt to evolving ransomware tactics.<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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4. Secure Communications Protocols <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEstablish out-of-band communication channels for use during incidents when standard systems may be compromised.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Utilize secure command and control capabilities to coordinate response activities.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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5. Integrate External Resources and Partnerships<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBuild relationships with forensic experts and incident response partners before an incident occurs.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Define protocols for communicating with external authorities and ensure cyber insurance requirements are addressed.<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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6. Enforce Security and Configuration Best Practices <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tContinuously monitor and enforce configuration compliance and vulnerability management across assets.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Apply network segmentation to isolate critical systems and contain lateral movement during attacks.<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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7. Regularly Validate and Update Backups <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMaintain secure, offline backups and test recovery procedures <\/span>frequently<\/span> to ensure data integrity and rapid restoration<\/span>.<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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8. Strengthen Identity and Access Management<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEnforce strong password policies, multi-factor authentication, and least-privilege access principles to reduce credential-related risks.<\/span><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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9. Provide Ongoing Training and Awareness<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tConduct regular training for security teams and end-users on ransomware tactics, phishing, and best practices for incident response.<\/span><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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By following these best practices and <\/span>leveraging<\/span> Fidelis Elevate <\/span><\/a>XDR\u2019s<\/span> integrated, proactive capabilities, organizations can build a resilient ransomware response plan that detects, <\/span>contains<\/span>, and neutralizes threats before they <\/span>impact<\/span> critical operations.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Conclusion<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Ransomware attacks require comprehensive response capabilities. Fidelis Elevate XDR provides technology to detect early-stage ransomware, <\/span>contain<\/span> threats before network-wide spread, recover from attacks, and improve security posture. An effective ransomware response plan combines defined processes with XDR technology for resilience against evolving threats.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The post Building a Ransomware Response Plan with Fidelis Elevate XDR: Technical Guide<\/a> appeared first on Fidelis Security<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ransomware attacks are projected to occur every 2 seconds by 2031, up from every 11 seconds in 2021. Organizations paid approximately $813.55 million to ransomware groups in 2024. Email remains the primary attack vector, with malicious attachments twice as common as phishing links. Organizations with compromised backups face $3M average recovery costs, with 45% requiring […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3229","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cybersecurityinfocus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3229"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cybersecurityinfocus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cybersecurityinfocus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cybersecurityinfocus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3229"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cybersecurityinfocus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3229\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cybersecurityinfocus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3229"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cybersecurityinfocus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3229"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cybersecurityinfocus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3229"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}