In this episode of Guardians of the Directory, Craig Birch and Chad Nichols discuss the critical steps needed to recover from a ransomware attack that targets Active Directory. They explore the challenges organizations face during such attacks, the importance of having a solid recovery strategy, and the lessons learned from real-world experiences. The conversation emphasizes the need for preparedness, security measures during recovery, and the implementation of best practices to prevent future attacks. takeaways Active Directory is the backbone of the network. Ransomware attacks can encrypt all systems quickly. Assessing damage post-attack is crucial. Recovery strategies must be well-planned. Traditional backup solutions may not suffice. Isolating infected systems is essential during recovery. New accounts should be created for privileged users post-recovery. Implementing zero trust security policies is vital. Regular testing of recovery procedures is necessary. Learning from past experiences can improve future responses.