Ransomware is evolving into a precision business model. In 2025, it accounted for 42% of all cyberattacks globally, with ransom demands averaging $1.72 million and recovery costs exceeding $2.7 million per incident. In MENA, attackers are leveraging AI-powered malware, ransomware-as-a-service and multi-vector extortion to target organisations across industries.
Threat actors now use real-time intelligence from company revenue, insurance coverage and leadership profiles to tailor their demands and pressure tactics. Negotiation missteps can escalate costs, trigger regulatory scrutiny and damage reputations.
What you will experience
This session guides you through the real-world complexity of negotiation and crisis management. You will:
Gain a behind-the-scenes view of how leadership teams navigate ransomware demands
Grasp the communication challenges in dealing with threat actors
Understand the collaboration needed across business stakeholders, insurers and regulators
Explore practical strategies to strengthen decision-making under pressure
Following the deep dive, we will move into a focused debrief. Drawing from anonymised ransomware cases, we will unpack what typically goes wrong, the pivotal moments that shape outcomes and the tactics threat actors use to escalate pressure.
You will gain practical insights from an experienced ransom negotiator into how others have managed crises, and what they may do differently next time.
Who Should Attend
This session is designed for senior professionals responsible for cybersecurity, legal risk, and crisis response across industries, including:
CISOs & Heads of Security
Risk Managers
Insurance Manager
Legal Counsel
Incident Response Leaders
Crisis Management Teams
Why It Matters
This session offers a confidential, hands-on environment to explore critical decision points, refine your response strategy and learn from real world experience.