Attackers copy sensitive data first, so they can threaten to publish it even if you restore from backup. Large outbound transfers, new cloud storage accounts and compression tools are typical signs.
Why it matters
For Ransomware, data theft is rarely a purely technical question. It touches ownership, budget and how quickly decisions can be made when something goes wrong. Teams that agree on these points in advance spend less time debating them under pressure.
What to check
- Monitor outbound data volumes
- Know where your most sensitive data lives
- Plan how you would respond to a leak threat
Where to start
Double extortion also triggers data protection duties. See the GDPR breach guide. Write down what you decide, who owns it and when it will be reviewed. That record is often the evidence a reviewer asks for later.