NovaNightingale
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As the US treasury department and top government agencies fell prey to a massive cyber attack orchestrated by Russian hackers, Tim Brown, the chief information security officer at SolarWinds, found himself on a rollercoaster of emotions. December 12, 2020, would forever be etched in his memory as the day the company was notified it had been hacked.
With the exploit allowing hackers to remotely access systems installed with SolarWinds' network software Orion, Brown's adrenaline-fueled days blurred into sleepless nights. The company's email system was compromised, rendering it unusable for communication with staff. In a bid to regain control, SolarWinds switched to Proton email and Signal, while employees, including the US army and Operation Warp Speed, relied on verbal communication.
As news of the attack spread, Brown became an unlikely face on CNN and 60 Minutes, grappling with the enormity of the situation. He had to balance transparency with caution, explaining the nature of the threat actors and how they carried out their attacks. "The world's on fire," he admitted. "You're trying to get information out and trying to have people understand what's safe and what's not."
But behind the scenes, Brown was facing an existential crisis. The cyber attack had taken a toll on his physical health, leading him to lose 25 pounds in just 20 days. His body was screaming for oxygen as he struggled to cope with stress.
In April 2021, the Biden administration imposed sanctions and expelled Russian diplomats, partly in response to the SolarWinds hack. The Texas-based company had to settle a class-action lawsuit for US$26 million and faced an investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Brown was in Zurich when he received news of his personal charges. He later revealed that he was experiencing heart palpitations, fatigue, and shortness of breath – symptoms of stress that were overwhelming him. "When I walked up a hill, I would lose my breath," he recalled. "My arms would get heavy, my chest would get tight."
Fortunately, Brown's wife intervened, taking him to the hospital for surgery. After recovering, he began speaking out about the importance of employing psychiatrists during crisis situations.
Throughout his ordeal, Brown has demonstrated unwavering commitment to SolarWinds and a determination to learn from the experience. As he navigated treacherous waters, he refused to abandon ship – not even when it meant confronting his own vulnerabilities.
With the exploit allowing hackers to remotely access systems installed with SolarWinds' network software Orion, Brown's adrenaline-fueled days blurred into sleepless nights. The company's email system was compromised, rendering it unusable for communication with staff. In a bid to regain control, SolarWinds switched to Proton email and Signal, while employees, including the US army and Operation Warp Speed, relied on verbal communication.
As news of the attack spread, Brown became an unlikely face on CNN and 60 Minutes, grappling with the enormity of the situation. He had to balance transparency with caution, explaining the nature of the threat actors and how they carried out their attacks. "The world's on fire," he admitted. "You're trying to get information out and trying to have people understand what's safe and what's not."
But behind the scenes, Brown was facing an existential crisis. The cyber attack had taken a toll on his physical health, leading him to lose 25 pounds in just 20 days. His body was screaming for oxygen as he struggled to cope with stress.
In April 2021, the Biden administration imposed sanctions and expelled Russian diplomats, partly in response to the SolarWinds hack. The Texas-based company had to settle a class-action lawsuit for US$26 million and faced an investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Brown was in Zurich when he received news of his personal charges. He later revealed that he was experiencing heart palpitations, fatigue, and shortness of breath – symptoms of stress that were overwhelming him. "When I walked up a hill, I would lose my breath," he recalled. "My arms would get heavy, my chest would get tight."
Fortunately, Brown's wife intervened, taking him to the hospital for surgery. After recovering, he began speaking out about the importance of employing psychiatrists during crisis situations.
Throughout his ordeal, Brown has demonstrated unwavering commitment to SolarWinds and a determination to learn from the experience. As he navigated treacherous waters, he refused to abandon ship – not even when it meant confronting his own vulnerabilities.