In this episode, Tim speaks with Anushree Vaidya about her upcoming presentation at ShowMeCon: Ransomware Rampage: Gamifying Your Incident Response Playbook. Anushree shares her passion for making cybersecurity training more interactive, emphasizing how gamifying the ransomware incident response process can transform traditional playbook exercises into dynamic, collaborative experiences.

Anushree explains how ransomware-specific playbooks differ from general incident response plans, the benefits of hands-on exercises for diverse teams, and how organizations of all sizes can adapt her training approach internally. She also discusses overlooked early indicators of ransomware attacks, communication challenges between technical teams and leadership, and how proactive preparation can significantly reduce the pain of an incident.

• Why ransomware-specific playbooks matter

• Turning incident response into a team-based, gamified learning experience

• Building ransomware exercises that include IT, security, PR, HR, and leadership teams

• Common gaps in ransomware detection and proactive preparation

• Coaching technical teams on communication during incidents

• Using AI to stay up to date with threat intelligence and reports

• Tailoring incident response playbooks for different industries and organizational sizes

• Participants will leave Anushree’s presentation with a customizable ransomware playbook and tools to take back to their organizations.

• Gamified incident response exercises promote better communication, quicker learning, and stronger collaboration across teams.

• Early detection and proactive measures like business impact analysis are critical to minimizing ransomware damage.

• Communication planning—including legal, internal, and external messaging—is essential for effective response.

• LinkedIn: Anushree Vaidya

• Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) Midwest Chapter Member

Anushree is passionate about connecting with others in cybersecurity, particularly in the Midwest region. Her DMs are always open for those who want to discuss ransomware, threat hunting, incident response, and cybersecurity strategy.

Use the promo code “ExploringSec” to get $50 off your registration

• Learn more about ShowMeCon: showmecon.com

• Register for Training or the Conference: Registration Link

• Event Venue and Room Block Information: Ameristar Casino & Resort

• Connect with the Founder of ShowMeCon Dave Chronister: LinkedIn Profile

• Connect with the Head Organizer for ShowMeCon Brooke Deneen: LinkedIn Profile

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