What should the Chief Security Officer implement to enhance resilience against ransomware attacks?

To enhance resilience against ransomware attacks, implementing application whitelisting and event-log management is essential. Application whitelisting involves allowing only trusted applications to run on a system, which significantly reduces the risk of executing malicious software, including ransomware. By preventing unapproved applications from operating, organizations can effectively mitigate the potential for infection.

Event-log management complements this by ensuring that all security-related events are monitored and recorded. By maintaining comprehensive logs of system activity, security teams can detect unusual patterns or behaviors, such as unauthorized application access attempts, and respond swiftly to potential threats. This proactive approach helps in preventing, identifying, and mitigating ransomware incidents before they escalate into widespread attacks.

On the other hand, while email-filtering software and account management play important roles in overall security, they primarily focus on preventing phishing attacks and managing user credentials rather than specifically addressing the unique threats posed by ransomware. Cyber insurance can provide financial recovery options after an attack but does not prevent an attack from occurring. End-user awareness training is crucial for informing staff about safe practices and recognizing social engineering tactics, but without the technical measures such as whitelisting and log management, the organization may still be vulnerable to ransomware execution if malicious software bypasses initial defenses.