In Jan 2023, a Southeast Asia boutique hotel was hit by ransomware delivered via a phishing email using socially engineered staff details. With no plan, management spent hours with internal IT before engaging responders—wasting time and increasing exposure. IR contained/eradicated the threat; forensics confirmed theft of PII (names, DOBs, passport and credit card data). The hotel notified victims, hired legal/PR, patched systems, offered vouchers, and refused the USD 500k Bitcoin demand. Operations were disrupted, driving cancellations and reputational harm. Direct costs: IR $60k, external IT $35k, legal/PR $115k, gestures $45k. Lesson: have a tested IR/BC plan or a retainer (e.g., Blackpanda IR-1 with 24/7 response, activation credit, advisory, resources) to reduce delay and cost.

Join for free to read