The week before Christmas is the busiest time of year for BrightSpark Toys. Orders are moving, warehouses are running around the clock, and every delay carries a cost.

Then systems start going down.

In this episode of Behind the Breach, host Amber Wuollet follows a fictionalized ransomware scenario involving a mid-sized toy manufacturer and distributor during its peak holiday season. She’s joined by Dominik Cvitanovic, breach counsel and attorney at Wilson Elser, to walk through the first seven days of the incident — from the first signs of trouble, to ransomware confirmation, attacker communication, legal considerations, and the pressure of restoring operations under uncertainty.

Together, they explore what happens when a ransom note appears, data may be at risk, and the threat actor suddenly goes silent mid-negotiation.

In this episode:

• Why incident response planning matters before systems go offline
• How cyber insurance can help connect organizations with expert support
• Why ransomware response involves legal, financial, operational, and reputational decisions
• What organizations should consider before engaging with a threat actor
• Why the first week can shape the direction of the response

Behind the Breach is a Cowbell podcast exploring what happens inside a cyber incident — and what organizations can learn before one happens to them.

Guest: Dominik Cvitanovic, Attorney at Law, Wilson Elser

Host: Amber Wuollet, Director of Product & Lifecycle Marketing, Cowbell

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, insurance, or cybersecurity advice.