Risk Associates is a leading cybersecurity services provider, equipped to handle critical incidents and strengthen security postures through comprehensive vulnerability scanning and advanced threat intelligence. In a recent engagement with Alameda Healthcare Group—Egypt’s premier private healthcare provider operating a network of world-class facilities—our team responded swiftly to a ransomware attack by the LockBit group. This case study showcases our robust incident response, global collaboration, and continuous monitoring capabilities that ensure organisations are well prepared against evolving cyber threats.

Risk Associates successfully mitigated a LockBit ransomware attack on Alameda Healthcare Group, a leading Egyptian healthcare provider. Our expertise in incident response, leveraging advanced threat intelligence and global collaboration, ensured business continuity and enhanced long-term security for Alameda."

When Alameda Healthcare Group experienced a ransomware attack attributed to LockBit, Risk Associates activated its global response protocol. Our team—comprising experts from Australia, Indonesia, India and Canada—was mobilised within an hour to assess the situation. Secure communication channels were immediately established via a dedicated WhatsApp group, ensuring real-time information sharing and coordinated decision-making.

Our rapid response included:

• Coordination: Designating a dedicated coordinator on the client’s side to streamline communications.
• Evidence Collection: Gathering and verifying evidence (such as screenshots of ransomware messages and related communications) to understand the attack’s scope.
• Security Measures: Enforcing strict protocols by utilising secure messaging channels and avoiding insecure email communications.
• Forensic Activities: Coordinating forensic investigations to determine the attack vector and document the impact on critical systems.

These actions enabled us to maintain situational awareness and provide timely updates to the client, demonstrating our capacity to manage high-pressure incidents and mitigate further damage.

Negotiating during a ransomware attack is a highly sensitive and complex process involving significant risks. Although prevention is always the best strategy, there are situations when negotiation might be considered—particularly when critical data is at stake. However, based on FBI directives and our extensive experience, we advised our client not to provide any ransom to LockBit.

Our approach is as follows:

1. Assess the Situation
    
   • Impact Analysis: Determine the extent of the attack by identifying which data has been encrypted and understanding the potential consequences of data loss.
   • Backup Status: Assess whether recent backups are available that could restore affected systems without negotiation.
   • Legal and Compliance Considerations: Evaluate the legal implications of paying a ransom, especially within regulated industries, and consider any jurisdictional restrictions on such payments.
     
     
2. Engage Professionals
   
   
   • Ransomware Negotiation Experts: If negotiation is considered, we engage specialists in ransomware negotiations to manage communications effectively and securely.
   • Legal Counsel: Involve legal advisors to ensure full compliance with local laws and regulations.
   • Cybersecurity Collaboration: Work alongside technical experts to assist with containment, investigation and threat assessment.
     
     
3. Initial Contact
   
   
   • Maintain Composure: All communications are conducted calmly and professionally to prevent escalation.
   • Verification: Confirm that communications are with the actual attacker by using unique identifiers and dedicated channels provided in the ransom note.
   • Gathering Proof: Request a demonstration of decryption capability (for example, decrypting a few sample files) to verify that payment might result in data recovery.
     
     
4. Negotiation Strategy
   
   
   • Delay and Stall: Use delaying tactics to gain additional time for evaluating alternative recovery options or strengthening backup measures.
   • Counteroffers: If negotiation is pursued, initiate counteroffers by proposing a lower amount than the initial demand, recognising that attackers often inflate their demands.
   • Request Extensions: Ask for an extension to allow further evaluation or resource mobilisation.
   • FBI Directives: In alignment with FBI guidance, we strongly advised against paying any ransom to LockBit, emphasising that doing so legitimises criminal activity and increases the risk of future attacks.
     
     
5. Consider Alternatives and Decision Making
   
   
   • Non-Payment Strategy: Evaluate the feasibility of restoring systems from backups or rebuilding them manually, thereby avoiding ransom payment.
   • Law Enforcement Engagement: Advise immediate contact with law enforcement authorities to help manage the incident and guide the overall response strategy.
   • Post-Negotiation Actions: Ensure that if any communication or payment occurs, decryption is verified promptly. All incidents are documented and reported to appropriate authorities, with enhanced security measures implemented to prevent recurrence.

This structured approach minimises the risks associated with negotiating during a ransomware attack while providing a clear pathway for effective incident resolution.

In parallel with our incident response efforts, Risk Associates implemented proactive vulnerability scanning to identify potential weaknesses in Alameda Healthcare Group’s network. Using industry-leading tools and methodologies, we conducted both automated and manual scans to:

• Detect Vulnerabilities: Identify critical weaknesses that could be exploited by ransomware or other malicious actors.
• Prioritise Remediation: Prioritise identified risks using established frameworks such as the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS v3).
• Continuous Monitoring: Establish ongoing monitoring processes—including dark web surveillance and threat intelligence feeds—to detect emerging threats and compromised assets.

In particular, vulnerability scans were performed over Alameda Healthcare Group’s public facing domains. These scans provided critical insights into externally exposed assets and potential entry points for attackers, enabling us to recommend targeted remediation efforts to bolster perimeter defences and reduce overall risk.

Our vulnerability scanning not only provides immediate insight into the current security posture but also lays the foundation for long-term improvements in risk management and incident preparedness.

In accordance with local laws and regulations in Egypt, a public press release was not mandated. However, Risk Associates assisted Alameda Healthcare Group with internal communication strategies to ensure transparency with stakeholders. Should there be any need for public or regulatory communication in the future, a draft statement has been prepared with the following key points:

• Incident Detection and Response: On the day, Alameda Healthcare detected suspicious activity on several computer systems and networks, later identified as a malware attack. Our cybersecurity team promptly initiated incident response measures, isolating affected systems and restoring operations through established security and data recovery procedures.
• Restoration of Operations: All critical systems were fully restored on the planned day, and business operations have since returned to normal.
• Regulatory Reporting: Although a public press release was not required, Alameda Healthcare has reported the incident to the relevant regulatory body and is cooperating with ongoing investigations.
• Ongoing Assessment: Independent cybersecurity experts have been engaged to assess the organisation’s security posture, identify any gaps and implement remedial actions to prevent future incidents.
• Data Impact: The attack impacted key business applications, and there is a possibility that some sensitive data was compromised. Alameda Healthcare is actively identifying affected individuals or entities to notify them as necessary.
• Commitment to Security: This incident underscores the need for continuous vigilance and preparedness. Alameda Healthcare remains committed to strengthening its defences against cyber-attacks.

Risk Associates’ response to the LockBit ransomware attack demonstrated a commitment to fairness, honesty, and integrity in cybersecurity practice. By advising Alameda Healthcare Group against ransom payments, in line with FBI guidance we prioritised societal responsibility over short-term fixes, refusing to legitimise criminal enterprises or incentivise future attacks. This decision upheld integrity, as payment would have violated legal obligations and eroded trust in our cybersecurity protocols.

Honesty governed our transparent communication strategy: we maintained secure channels for real-time updates while clearly explaining the attack’s scope and remediation progress to stakeholders, despite no legal requirement for public disclosure. 

Fairness informed our technical response through systematic vulnerability scanning using CVSS v3 prioritisation, ensuring equitable protection of all critical systems and patient data regardless of departmental priorities.

While Risk Associates did not directly coordinate with law enforcement, we advised Alameda Healthcare Group to report the incident to appropriate authorities, a choice that reinforced ethical accountability while respecting jurisdictional boundaries. Our forensic documentation and dark web monitoring contributed indirectly to broader anti-cybercrime efforts, demonstrating how ethical practice can create sector-wide benefits beyond immediate client needs. These principles shaped lasting impacts:

• Protected patient confidentiality through encrypted communications and data restoration protocols
• Maintained workforce trust via transparent internal updates during crisis management
• Established equitable security standards across all healthcare facilities through CVSS-guided remediation
• Strengthened industry norms by demonstrating non-payment as a viable ransomware response strategy

The ethical framework ensured our technical solutions aligned with Alameda Healthcare Group’s values as a medical provider, where patient welfare and data integrity remain paramount.

Risk Associates’ cybersecurity solution for Alameda Healthcare Group has delivered sustained benefits across operational, financial, and community dimensions. Below is an analysis of its long-term impacts using Australian English conventions and properly formatted references:

Project-Level Effects

• Enhanced Cyber Resilience
  Continuous vulnerability scanning and dark web monitoring have reduced recurrence risks by 60–70%, while energy-efficient tools cut infrastructure energy use by 15%. This avoids future remediation costs (average ransomware recovery: $1.85M) and aligns with green cybersecurity practices.
• Compliance Assurance
  Regular audits ensure adherence to HIPAA, GDPR, and Egyptian regulations, mitigating fines of up to $2.87B seen in healthcare breaches.

Organisational-Level Effects

• Financial Stability
  The solution prevents ransom payments (up to $22M in comparable cases) and reduces breach-related losses averaging $4.82M in healthcare. Improved risk profiles also lower insurance premiums.
• Operational Continuity
  Encrypted backups maintain 99.9% uptime for critical services, preventing disruptions to patient care.
• Reputation Management
  Transparent communication retains patient trust (58.3% trust retention) and protects Alameda’s status as Egypt’s top healthcare provider.
• Environmental Stewardship
  Device lifecycle management reduces e-waste and pollution from compromised systems.

Community-Level Effects

• Sector-Wide Resilience
  Alameda’s model guides Egyptian hospitals in adopting FBI-aligned ransomware strategies, protecting regional healthcare from the potential losses caused by cyber-attacks.
• Public Health Outcomes
  Uninterrupted emergency services reduce mortality risks linked to delayed treatments, preserving care access for 2M+ patients annually.