Cyber Attack Lessons
Professional Security Magazine, Monday, June 8th, 2026
Databarracks experts draw six recovery lessons from the British Library's 2023 ransomware attack.
The article revisits the British Library's October 2023 ransomware attack, in which the Rhysida group exploited a remote access server lacking MFA, exfiltrated 600GB of data, and encrypted systems, with recovery costs exceeding GBP 7 million.
Databarracks' James Watts and Charlie Maclean-Bristol outline six lessons: implement comprehensive identity controls like MFA; actively manage legacy technology risk; design systems with network segmentation to limit breach spread; prioritize recovery capability alongside prevention; regularly test and exercise response plans; and share incident insights publicly to build collective resilience.
The Library's transparent Cyber Incident Review, commended by the NCSC, is highlighted as a model for industry learning.