Locked Up

Praise for LOCKEDUP “Here’s the reality. Ransomware is not a possibility; it is a certainty. Locked Up gives leaders the tools and insights to respond with clarity and strength when it happens to them.” —DR. ERIC COLE, Founder and CEO at Secure Anchor, Member of Forbes Tech Council “The author transforms his awful ransomware experience into the most practical, readable cybersecurity guide I’ve ever encountered.” —KIP BOYLE, CISO at Cyber Risk Opportunities LLC “A gripping account that vividly portrays the emotional ups and downs experienced during each phase of a cybersecurity incident, making complex challenges feel personal and real.” —MARC ASHWORTH, CISO at First Bank “Not just a technical postmortem, but an engaging and candid account of a cyber-siege on the academic world. Zach’s perspective is a masterclass in crisis leadership, revealing that the greatest defense isn’t a firewall, but the people who stand behind it.” —LESTER GODSEY, CISO at Arizona State University, former CISO at Maricopa County, Arizona “This book delivers no-nonsense, practical advice on how to survive a cyberattack—by someone who’s been right in the thick of it. Zach Lewis guides readers step-by-step through the hack his institution suffered, offering sensible tips and crucial wisdom for anyone in IT who’s trying to keep the bad guys out, or—god forbid—fighting them once they’ve got in.” —GEOFF WHITE, Investigative Journalist and Author of The Lazarus Heist, Crime Dot Com, and Rinsed “‘A smart man learns from his mistakes. A wise man learns from the mistakes of others.’ In his book, Zach Lewis offers readers the ultimate opportunity to gain that wisdom. This unflinching, firsthand account plunges into the chaos of a LockBit ransomware attack, revealing not just the technical gaps but the human toll of a modern cyber crisis. From the initial, disorienting realization of a breach to the nail-biting negotiations and the arduous path to recovery, Lewis provides a rare, inside look at what truly happens when everything goes sideways. More than a survival story, it’s a battle-tested playbook for every leader, defender, and organization, designed to transform a nightmare scenario into a powerful catalyst for resilience.” —ANDREW WILDER, CSO at Vetcor 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. 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.