Data Context: The Ransomware Geme-Changer

How data insights transform ransomware response: Lessons From DataSecAI 25‍

Operation Deep Lock put 100 security leaders to the test in a high-stakes, multi-cloud ransomware crisis simulation designed to pressure-test real-world decision-making. They navigated the scenario twice: once without data context, and then again armed with detailed information about the data at risk.

The following infographic reveals how leaders’ decisions shifted when they could see exactly which data was compromised, how sensitive it was, and the true scale of the threat. Across seven modules - from initial encryption to ransom negotiations to customer notifications - several powerful trends emerged. 

Key highlights

• 82% correctly identified the observed activity as harmless after data context was provided
• Customer notifications were reduced by 76%, to 312,000, once the impact was validated.
• 91% of participants refused to pay the ransom after confirming that sensitive data was not accessed

The simulation proves that access to data context leads to measurable, real-world shifts in ransomware response decisions. 

Explore the infographic to discover how data insights reshaped every response during the simulation.

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