Ransomware Incident Response Checklist for Miami Businesses

Ransomware attacks have surged across South Florida, targeting healthcare clinics, law firms, and small businesses that lack dedicated IT security teams. When ransomware strikes, every minute counts. This checklist guides your team through the critical first 24 hours.

Immediate Response (First 30 Minutes)

• Disconnect affected machines from the network immediately — unplug Ethernet, disable Wi-Fi
• Do NOT restart or shut down infected systems (evidence is preserved in RAM)
• Alert your IT provider or internal IT team
• Notify leadership and legal counsel
• Document the time and nature of discovery

Containment Phase (Hours 1–4)

• Isolate network segments to prevent lateral spread
• Identify which systems are encrypted vs. clean
• Preserve system images before any remediation
• Check backup integrity — are backups intact and offline?
• Contact cyber insurance carrier to open a claim

Recovery Phase

Recovery priority depends on your backup strategy. Businesses with immutable, air-gapped backups can often restore within hours. Those without may face weeks of downtime or a difficult ransom decision.

• Restore from the most recent clean backup
• Rebuild compromised systems from scratch when possible
• Reset all credentials — assume everything is compromised
• Patch the vulnerability used for initial access
• Enable EDR and enhanced monitoring before reconnecting