The Ransomware Threat and the Resilience Imperative | A HITRUST Collaborate 2024 Conversation with Allan Liska | On Location Coverage with Sean Martin and Marco Ciappelli

Guest: Allan Liska, Senior Security Architect and Ransomware Specialist, Recorded Future [@RecordedFuture]

On Linkedin | https://www.linkedin.com/in/allan2

On Twitter | https://twitter.com/uuallan

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Hosts: 

Sean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine [@ITSPmagazine] and Host of Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast [@RedefiningCyber]

On ITSPmagazine | https://www.itspmagazine.com/sean-martin

Marco Ciappelli, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine [@ITSPmagazine] and Host of Redefining Society Podcast

On ITSPmagazine | https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/marco-ciappelli

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Episode Notes

In this episode of the On Location with Sean and Marco podcast, recorded for the HITRUST Collaborate Conference in Dallas, TX, hosts Sean Martin and Marco Ciappelli engage in a dynamic conversation around the theme of cybersecurity in healthcare, specifically focusing on ransomware resilience. Sean and Marco are joined by Allan Liska for an insightful discussion on the current state of ransomware and the importance of proactive defenses.

The episode begins with Sean and Marco acknowledging the hectic nature of their schedule, emphasizing their excitement for the upcoming events. Sean mentions his active participation at the HITRUST conference, working closely with risk management and compliance experts, while Marco expresses his envy yet supports Sean’s engagements.

Allan Liska, the guest of this episode, brings a wealth of knowledge as an intelligence analyst specializing in ransomware research at Recorded Future. Allan delineates the ongoing challenges faced by organizations, particularly in healthcare, in mitigating ransomware threats. He highlights the increase in law enforcement activities targeting ransomware groups, which has led to more internal drama within the cybercriminal community, making the topic more relatable and urgent for organizations.

A substantial part of the conversation revolves around the significance of tabletop exercises in preparing organizations for ransomware incidents. Allan stresses that effective tabletop exercises must involve representatives from across the entire organization, ensuring comprehensive preparedness. The exercises should be engaging and realistic, incorporating lessons learned to update incident response plans continually. Allan also recommends keeping out-of-band communication methods ready, such as using Signal, to ensure seamless operations during a ransomware attack.

The importance of leadership buy-in is underlined, with Allan explaining how having senior leaders understand and support these exercises can significantly enhance the overall security posture. The discussion touches on common pitfalls, such as the assumption that backups alone will suffice, highlighting the necessity of regular, holistic testing of recovery processes.

The hosts also reflect on the collaborative aspect of the HITRUST conference, noting that it provides an invaluable opportunity for participants to network, share best practices, and learn from each other's experiences. That's precisely the spirit Allan hopes to capture during his session at the conference.

In conclusion, this episode is a deep dive into the complexities of ransomware defense, offering practical advice and underscoring the collective effort required to protect healthcare systems against cyber threats. Sean and Marco invite listeners to stay engaged and informed through their podcast series, promising more enlightening discussions on critical cybersecurity topics.

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This Episode’s Sponsors

HITRUST: https://itspm.ag/itsphitweb

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Follow our HITRUST Collaborate 2024 coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/hitrust-collaborate-2024-information-risk-management-and-compliance-event-coverage-frisco-texas

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Resources

The Ransomware Threat and the Resilience Imperative (Session): https://www.hitrustevents.com/event/HITRUSTCollaborate2024/websitePage:645d57e4-75eb-4769-b2c0-f201a0bfc6ce?session=3448b1bf-3996-4945-95ed-bd957710b0ac

Learn more about HITRUST Collaborate 2024 and register for the conference: https://itspm.ag/hitrusmxay

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