Challenges in Responding to Ransomware Incidents in Cloud Connected IoT Environments

• Published in: Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems Vol. 23; no. 3; p. 240
• Main Author: Fehér, Dávid János
• Format: Paper
• Language: English
• Published: Hrvatsko interdisciplinarno društvo 30.06.2025
• Subjects: cloud; cybersecurity; incident response; IoT; ransomware
• ISSN: 1334-4684; 1334-4676
• DOI: 10.7906/indecs.23.3.5

The rise of IoT technologies has exponentially increased the return on investment from the ransomware threat vector side. This study addresses the cybersecurity challenges in reacting to security incidents of complex cloud connected IoT solutions, mainly focusing on ransomware incidents. It highlights the diverse and interconnected nature of IoT systems, which creates a complex landscape of attack surfaces for ransomware. The centralization of risks exacerbates these challenges due to cloud or multi-cloud integration, necessitating robust security measures and comprehensive incident response strategies. The need for holistic security approaches, encompassing endpoint, network, and multi-cloud defenses, to mitigate ransomware risks effectively is rising, and the complexities of incident response in such integrated systems are more emphasized, focusing on the coordination required across various stakeholders for effective management and recovery. The study advocates for adaptive, layered security solutions and a nuanced understanding of the interconnected technological landscape to enhance resilience against ransomware threats in cloud-connected IoT environments.