Locked Up: Cybersecurity Threat Mitigation Lessons from A Real-World LockBit Ransomware Response

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Zachary Lewis

Locked Up

Cybersecurity Threat Mitigation Lessons from A Real-World LockBit Ransomware Response

Zachary Lewis

$65.95

Paperback

Forthcoming
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English

John Wiley & Sons Inc
23 December 2025

True crime; Criminal law & procedure; IT & Communications law; Privacy & data protection

A gripping true story about one ransomware attack and the hands-on lessons you can learn from it

In Locked Up: Lessons Learned from A Real-World LockBit Ransomware Response, veteran IT and cybersecurity executive Zachary Lewis, delivers a gripping, first-person account of how a major university squared off against one of the world's most infamous ransomware groups: LockBit. He walks you through his personal experience battling – and negotiating with – LockBit, as well as the strategies, tools, and approaches he used in resolving the crisis.

The book is a detailed, darkly funny, and behind-the-scenes account of an increasingly common and feared event for organizations of all types and sizes. It offers up-to-date advice for people tasked with preventing, responding to, and recovering from ransomware attacks. You'll find:

Insightful crisis management lessons applicable to both technical and business leaders Hands-on technical solutions you can apply to prevent catastrophic data loss during a ransomware event Techniques to manage the intense operational, emotional, and interpersonal challenges that arise in the midst of an unexpected crisis

Perfect for IT professionals, cybersecurity leaders, and business decision-makers in higher education, healthcare, government, and nonprofit organizations, Locked Up is also a must-read for business continuity planners, legal counsel, and anyone else with an interest in real-world cybersecurity.

By: Zachary Lewis
Imprint: John Wiley & Sons Inc
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 226mm, Width: 152mm, Spine: 18mm
Weight: 454g
ISBN: 9781394357048
ISBN 10: 1394357044
Pages: 288
Publication Date: 23 December 2025
Audience: Professional and scholarly , General/trade , Undergraduate , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Introduction: The Attack xv PART I: LEADING TO THE ATTACK 1 Chapter 1: A New Breed of Criminals 3 Chapter 2: Easy Prey 31 Chapter 3: Cybersecurity at UHSP 51 PART II: RESPONDING TO THE ATTACK 67 Chapter 4: The Leadership Response 69 Chapter 5: The War Room 85 Chapter 6: Countdown to the Data Dump 101 PART III: RECOVERING FROM THE ATTACK 115 Chapter 7: The Data Dump 117 Chapter 8: Strengthening Security Post-Attack 133 Chapter 9: Reflections and Lessons Learned 151 PART IV: WHAT ORGANIZATIONS CAN DO 165 Chapter 10: Building a Resilient Cybersecurity Program 167 Chapter 11: Implementing Strong Technical Controls 193 Chapter 12: Responding to a Cyberattack 215 Epilogue: The Calm We Earned 237 Appendix: Cybersecurity Onboarding Checklist: A 30–60–90–120-Day Plan 241 Acknowledgments 243 About the Author 245 Index 247

ZACHARY LEWIS is a veteran IT executive with extensive experience in IT management, cybersecurity, risk mitigation, and budget oversight. He’s an Assistant Vice President of IT and the Chief Information Security Officer at a private higher education institute.