www.darkreading.com Open in urlscan Pro
2606:4700::6812:6e2f  Public Scan

Form analysis
0 forms found in the DOM

Text Content

The Edge
DR Tech
Sections
Close
Back
Sections
Featured Sections
The Edge
Dark Reading Technology
Attacks / Breaches

Cloud

ICS/OT

Remote Workforce

Perimeter

Analytics
Security Monitoring

Security Monitoring
App Sec
Database Security

Database Security
Risk
Compliance

Compliance
Threat Intelligence

Endpoint
AuthenticationMobile SecurityPrivacy

AuthenticationMobile SecurityPrivacy
Vulnerabilities / Threats
Advanced ThreatsInsider ThreatsVulnerability Management

Advanced ThreatsInsider ThreatsVulnerability Management
Operations
Identity & Access ManagementCareers & People

Identity & Access ManagementCareers & People
Physical Security

IoT

DR Global
Middle East & Africa

Middle East & Africa
Black Hat news
Omdia Research
Events
Close
Back
Events
Events
 * Think Like An Attacker - A Dark Reading November 16 Event
   
 * Black Hat Europe - December 4-7 - Learn More
   

Webinars
 * Cyber Risk Assessment Secrets From the Pros
   Sep 26, 2023
 * The Evolution of the Vulnerability Landscape in 2023
   Sep 27, 2023

Resources
Close
Back
Resources
Dark Reading Library >
Reports >
Webinars >
White Papers >
Slideshows >
Newsletters >
Events >
Partner Perspectives: Microsoft
Partner Perspectives: Google Cloud

Newsletter Sign-Up

The Edge
DR Tech
Sections
Close
Back
Sections
Featured Sections
The Edge
Dark Reading Technology
Attacks / Breaches

Cloud

ICS/OT

Remote Workforce

Perimeter

Analytics
Security Monitoring

Security Monitoring
App Sec
Database Security

Database Security
Risk
Compliance

Compliance
Threat Intelligence

Endpoint
AuthenticationMobile SecurityPrivacy

AuthenticationMobile SecurityPrivacy
Vulnerabilities / Threats
Advanced ThreatsInsider ThreatsVulnerability Management

Advanced ThreatsInsider ThreatsVulnerability Management
Operations
Identity & Access ManagementCareers & People

Identity & Access ManagementCareers & People
Physical Security

IoT

DR Global
Middle East & Africa

Middle East & Africa
Black Hat news
Omdia Research
Events
Close
Back
Events
Events
 * Think Like An Attacker - A Dark Reading November 16 Event
   
 * Black Hat Europe - December 4-7 - Learn More
   

Webinars
 * Cyber Risk Assessment Secrets From the Pros
   Sep 26, 2023
 * The Evolution of the Vulnerability Landscape in 2023
   Sep 27, 2023

Resources
Close
Back
Resources
Dark Reading Library >
Reports >
Webinars >
White Papers >
Slideshows >
Newsletters >
Events >
Partner Perspectives: Microsoft
Partner Perspectives: Google Cloud
The Edge
DR Tech
Sections
Close
Back
Sections
Featured Sections
The Edge
Dark Reading Technology
Attacks / Breaches

Cloud

ICS/OT

Remote Workforce

Perimeter

Analytics
Security Monitoring

Security Monitoring
App Sec
Database Security

Database Security
Risk
Compliance

Compliance
Threat Intelligence

Endpoint
AuthenticationMobile SecurityPrivacy

AuthenticationMobile SecurityPrivacy
Vulnerabilities / Threats
Advanced ThreatsInsider ThreatsVulnerability Management

Advanced ThreatsInsider ThreatsVulnerability Management
Operations
Identity & Access ManagementCareers & People

Identity & Access ManagementCareers & People
Physical Security

IoT

DR Global
Middle East & Africa

Middle East & Africa
Black Hat news
Omdia Research
Events
Close
Back
Events
Events
 * Think Like An Attacker - A Dark Reading November 16 Event
   
 * Black Hat Europe - December 4-7 - Learn More
   

Webinars
 * Cyber Risk Assessment Secrets From the Pros
   Sep 26, 2023
 * The Evolution of the Vulnerability Landscape in 2023
   Sep 27, 2023

Resources
Close
Back
Resources
Dark Reading Library >
Reports >
Webinars >
White Papers >
Slideshows >
Newsletters >
Events >
Partner Perspectives: Microsoft
Partner Perspectives: Google Cloud

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Newsletter Sign-Up
SEARCH
A minimum of 3 characters are required to be typed in the search bar in order to
perform a search.




Announcements
 1. 
 2. 
 3. 

Event
Think Like an Attacker: Understanding Cybercriminals & Nation-State Threat Actor
| Nov 16 Virtual Event <REGISTER NOW>
Event
Tips for A Streamlined Transition to Zero Trust | Sept 28 LIVE Webinar <REGISTER
NOW>
Event
The Evolution of the Vulnerability Landscape in 2023 | Sept 27 LIVE Webinar
<REGISTER NOW>
PreviousNext

Application Security

4 MIN READ

News



MGM, CAESARS CYBERATTACK RESPONSES REQUIRED BRUTAL CHOICES

Tens of millions in losses later, the MGM and Caesars systems are back online
following dual cyberattacks by the same threat actor — here's what experts say
about their incident responses.
Becky Bracken
Editor, Dark Reading
September 22, 2023
Source: Tomasz Zajda via Alamy Stock Photo
PDF


Twin cyberattacks on MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment have provided a
singular view into what happens when two similar organizations, under similar
attacks by the same threat actor, pursue contrasting incident response
strategies. 



In this instance, both were victims of a Scattered Spider /ALPHV cyberattack.
Caesars quickly negotiated with the cyberattackers, and handed over a $15
million ransom payout, which allowed it to proceed with business in relatively
short order. MGM meanwhile flatly refused to pay, and just announced that its
operations have been recovered after 10+ days of casino and hotel operational
downtime (tens of millions of dollars in lost revenue later).

While it's tempting to make a judgment as to which approach is better, any
direct comparison between the Caesars and MGM responses to the cyberattack is an
oversimplification, experts say. For instance, Rob T. Lee, SANS Institute's
chief curriculum director and faculty lead, emphasizes that the core principle
of incident response is trying to make the "least worst decision." And this
tends to be a complex decision that always has a positive and a negative (some
would say brutal) set of outcomes. 

He notes, "many business decisions can go into that. Only once an incident is
over can you see different paths that could have led to different or at least
worse outcomes. There is no 'win' in these situations, only decisions that can
prevent it from worsening."




SHOULD YOU PAY THE RANSOM? WAS MGM RIGHT OR CAESARS? IT'S COMPLICATED

Whether or not to pay a ransom following a cyberattack is one of those no-win
decisions incident responders are forced to make under intense pressure.

AdChoices
ADVERTISING



It's well documented that paying a ransom does nothing to guarantee data
security or system recovery. Worse yet, it encourages future attacks by creating
a market for these cybercrimes. But business risk decisions don't always turn on
clear-cut choices of right vs. wrong, and expediency is always a consideration.

"Caesars' more rapid recovery post-ransom might give the impression they made a
better decision," says Callie Guenther, senior manager of cyber threat research
at Critical Start. "From a business continuity perspective, their decision to
pay might seem effective."

However, Joseph Carson, chief security scientist and advisory CISO at Delinea
explains that there are other complexities at play. Companies who take a while
to mull their options may decide that not paying makes more sense. In his
experience, he says organizations only have about a four-day window to negotiate
with ransomware threat actors before positions become hardened on both sides.
After that, ransomware attackers tend to become frustrated, and enterprise
security teams get dug into their position as well.



"There's a sunken-cost bias," security researcher Jake Williams added. "The
further away from the incident they (cybersecurity response and recovery teams)
get, the more entrenched they get in the recovery."

Recovery costs are another consideration, according to Carson. If recovery is
painful, but only costs a few million, that might be a better choice compared to
a an eight-figure extortion payment, he adds.


WHAT EACH RESPONSE SIGNALS ABOUT BUSINESS PRIORITIES

Evaluating both MGM and Caesars overall incident response broadly, Guenther
explains that Caesars' reaction shows that keeping operations running was the
priority, while the MGM response demonstrates that the organization is willing
to endure short-term financial pain for long-term cybersecurity gains.

"MGM's choice not to pay the ransom, despite financial losses, might stem from a
broader perspective on the implications of ransom payments," Guenther says. "The
duration of their disruption might also reflect a comprehensive internal review
and restoration process, ensuring all threats are fully mitigated."

Caesars' incident response, she adds, by comparison was "decisive."

"However, paying a ransom, while providing immediate relief, carries long-term
considerations," Guenther adds. "The speed of their recovery post-payment
suggests they had robust backup and restoration processes in place, but it also
raises questions about their preventative measures leading up to the attack."


SOME IR TEAMS JUST GET LUCKY IN VEGAS

Experts widely acknowledge that both Caesars and MGM incident responses were
capable under difficult circumstances and mitigated more widespread damage.

In terms of Caesars' ransom payment, Andrew Barratt, vice president at Coalfire,
points out what a fraction the $15 million extortion payment is in the larger
scheme of the organization's overall revenues.

"Caesars' payout works out to be around a 0.1% hit on their year-prior revenue,
and that probably wouldn't even make their earnings call if it was another type
of cost amortized over the period," Barratt says.

He adds that MGM's 10-day recovery time stacks up well against other
organizations, in his experience.

"While it seems to have dragged on, I've seen incidents take upwards of a year
to get fully resolved, and 10 days is not a terrible response for an
organization with the complexity the MGM inevitably has," Barratt adds.

Cybersecurity hygiene, system architecture, tools, and available talent pool
aside, SANS Institute's Lee points out incident recovery is ultimately about as
predictable as a pull on a slot machine.

"Just because Caesars recovered 'better' might not have anything to do with the
ransom payment," Lee adds. "You cannot judge 'success' based on the outcome —
they just might have been, using a Vegas term, luckier."

ICS/OT SecurityRiskOperationsAttacks/Breaches
Keep up with the latest cybersecurity threats, newly-discovered vulnerabilities,
data breach information, and emerging trends. Delivered daily or weekly right to
your email inbox.
Subscribe

More Insights
White Papers
 * 
   Global Perspectives on Threat Intelligence
 * 
   Causes and Consequences of IT and OT Convergence

More White Papers
Webinars
 * 
   Cyber Risk Assessment Secrets From the Pros
 * 
   The Evolution of the Vulnerability Landscape in 2023

More Webinars
Reports
 * 
   The State of Supply Chain Threats
 * 
   Concerns Mount Over Ransomware, Zero-Day Bugs, and AI-Enabled Malware

More Reports

Editors' Choice
Cisco Moves Into SIEM With $28B Deal to Acquire Splunk
Jeffrey Schwartz, Contributing Writer, Dark Reading
MGM Restores Casino Operations 10 Days After Cyberattack
Dark Reading Staff, Dark Reading
FBI, CISA Issue Joint Warning on 'Snatch' Ransomware-as-a-Service
Jai Vijayan, Contributing Writer, Dark Reading
Okta Agent Involved in MGM Resorts Breach, Attackers Claim
Becky Bracken, Editor, Dark Reading
Webinars
 * Cyber Risk Assessment Secrets From the Pros
 * The Evolution of the Vulnerability Landscape in 2023
 * Securing Identities in the Cloud
 * Tips for A Streamlined Transition to Zero Trust
 * Using AI in Application Security Tooling

More Webinars
Reports
 * The State of Supply Chain Threats
 * Concerns Mount Over Ransomware, Zero-Day Bugs, and AI-Enabled Malware
 * Everything You Need to Know About DNS Attacks
 * How Enterprises Are Managing Application Security Risks in a Heightened
   Threat Environment
 * Successfully Managing Identity in Modern Cloud and Hybrid Environments

More Reports

White Papers
 * Global Perspectives on Threat Intelligence
 * Causes and Consequences of IT and OT Convergence
 * Digital Transformation and Connected Systems Have Opened the Door to New
   Threat Vectors
 * Evaluating SASE for the Work-From-Anywhere Era
 * 9 Traits You Need to Succeed as a Cybersecurity Leader

More White Papers
Events
 * Think Like An Attacker - A Dark Reading November 16 Event
 * Black Hat Europe - December 4-7 - Learn More
 * Black Hat Middle East and Africa - Nov 14-16 - Learn More
 * Black Hat Japan Trainings - Nov 13-14 - Learn More

More Events
More Insights
White Papers
 * 
   Global Perspectives on Threat Intelligence
 * 
   Causes and Consequences of IT and OT Convergence

More White Papers
Webinars
 * 
   Cyber Risk Assessment Secrets From the Pros
 * 
   The Evolution of the Vulnerability Landscape in 2023

More Webinars
Reports
 * 
   The State of Supply Chain Threats
 * 
   Concerns Mount Over Ransomware, Zero-Day Bugs, and AI-Enabled Malware

More Reports

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

 * InformationWeek
 * Network Computing
 * ITPro Today

 * Data Center Knowledge
 * Black Hat
 * Omdia

WORKING WITH US

 * About Us
 * Advertise
 * Reprints

FOLLOW DARK READING ON SOCIAL

 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 


 * Home
 * Cookies
 * Privacy
 * Terms



Copyright © 2023 Informa PLC Informa UK Limited is a company registered in
England and Wales with company number 1072954 whose registered office is 5
Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.





Cookies Button


ABOUT COOKIES ON THIS SITE

We and our partners use cookies to enhance your website experience, learn how
our site is used, offer personalised features, measure the effectiveness of our
services, and tailor content and ads to your interests while you navigate on the
web or interact with us across devices. By clicking "Continue" or continuing to
browse our site you are agreeing to our and our partners use of cookies. For
more information seePrivacy Policy

CONTINUE




COOKIES PREFERENCE CENTER

When you visit any website, it may store or retrieve information on your
browser, mostly in the form of cookies. This information might be about you,
your preferences or your device and is mostly used to make the site work as you
expect it to. The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can
give you a more personalized web experience. Because we respect your right to
privacy, you can choose not to allow some types of cookies. Click on the
different category headings to find out more and change our default settings.
However, blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience of the site
and the services we are able to offer.
More information
Allow All


MANAGE CONSENT PREFERENCES

STRICTLY NECESSARY COOKIES

Always Active

These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched
off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you
which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy
preferences, logging in or filling in forms.    You can set your browser to
block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then
work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information.

PERFORMANCE COOKIES

Performance Cookies

These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and
improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the
most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site.    All
information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you
do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and
will not be able to monitor its performance.

FUNCTIONAL COOKIES

Functional Cookies

These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and
personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose
services we have added to our pages.    If you do not allow these cookies then
some or all of these services may not function properly.

TARGETING COOKIES

Targeting Cookies

These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may
be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you
relevant adverts on other sites.    They do not store directly personal
information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet
device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted
advertising.

Back Button


BACK



Search Icon
Filter Icon

Clear
checkbox label label
Apply Cancel
Consent Leg.Interest
checkbox label label
checkbox label label
checkbox label label

Confirm My Choices