Exabeam

Responsibilities:

Tools Used:

Overview

As part of a broader e-learning curriculum for security analysts, this video module aims to vividly demonstrate the ease and speed with which ransomware attacks can compromise a system. The goal is to create an impactful, real-world scenario that emphasizes the critical need for vigilance and quick reaction in a cybersecurity context.

Learning Objectives

• Raise awareness of the risks associated with phishing and suspicious links in emails.
• Demonstrate how quickly ransomware can propagate within a network after a user's mistake.
• Illustrate how malicious code infiltrates and locks users out of essential systems and files.

The video is designed to be short (1-2 minutes), dynamic, and tension-filled, engaging learners with dramatic pacing and high-stakes scenarios. The animation is used to visually depict the speed and impact of a ransomware attack, creating a sense of urgency for the learner. The narrative follows a real-world example of an individual clicking a suspicious link within a phishing email, showing how the attack unfolds in a matter of seconds.

The script, written by a technical developer on our team, incorporated three distinct phases to show this process:

• Introduction: The video opens with a standard workday email scenario, showing a user receiving an innocuous-looking email containing a suspicious link.
• Click & Infection: As soon as the user clicks the link, the video shifts dramatically, showing the rapid spread of malicious code. The animation illustrates how the code infiltrates the system, locking the user out and infecting the network.
• Ransomware Lockdown: The tension escalates as the video demonstrates the sudden loss of access to files, reinforcing how quickly and catastrophically an attack can take down a system. The visuals underscore how ransomware can cripple an organization, adding an emotional, high-pressure element to the experience.

The fast-paced sequence, combined with clear on-screen visuals, ensures that the key message is delivered effectively within the tight timeframe we had to complete it. The dramatic presentation serves as a reminder of how critical it is to be vigilant and prepared.

Because the timeframe to complete this video was tight, imagery was quickly assembled in storyboard form to communicate to stakeholders how the video would look at key points. The storyboard was reviewed by stakeholders and colleagues and edits made to ensure a clear and straight-forward representation of the material. Once I received sign-off on the storyboard, I began development of the final video.

A visually captivating, tense, and highly engaging animated video, specifically designed to immerse learners in a real-world ransomware attack scenario. The video aligns with the larger e-learning course's objectives, providing security analysts with practical, scenario-based training they can immediately apply in their roles.