Ransomware is a growing and evolving threat that businesses need to be aware of. It’s important to have in place cloud backup solutions in case you are the target of ransomware attackers, but beyond that, you need to be proactive in safeguarding against these attacks.
The following are some of the important things to know to protect your business, your data, and your clients from ransomware attacks.
The Changing Landscape of Ransomware
In 2020, there was an explosion in the number of cyberattacks happening throughout the world, and much of this was brought about because of the pandemic. The big targets for ransomware attackers included health care and educational organizations, as well as local governments. For example, The University of Utah paid more than $450,000 to prevent the release of information onto the dark web following a ransomware attack.
What happens in a ransomware attack is that malware is used to encrypt files. Then, the files and the systems that rely on said files can’t be used. The attacker demands to be paid ransom to release the system. Without the ransom being paid, there is usually a threat to publish data that can be sensitive.
Most ransomware attacks occur by using phishing. For example, an attacker might use a link, and when it’s clicked on and something is opened or downloaded, the attacker can gain access to information.
Ransomware attacks aren’t just becoming more prevalent. They’re also becoming more sophisticated, and they often prey on human emotion and fears. It’s also becoming harder for antivirus programs to detect these attacks.
With the COVID-19 pandemic, cybercriminals took advantage of many opportunities involving the fear people had about the illness itself and also financial and economic fears. So how can you protect your business?
Have a Backup and Recovery Plan
This was mentioned above, and while it doesn’t necessarily protect you from the attack itself, it can help you avoid paying the ransom, and it can reduce your downtime. Have a plan and regularly test it so that you can limit the impact of any system loss or data loss.
You should also know that network-connected backups can be affected in the event of a ransomware attack, so you should isolate your critical backups from your network.
Keep Your Antivirus Protections Updated
While ransomware attacks are sometimes able to slip through antivirus protection, that’s not always the case. A basic tenant of cybersecurity is having antivirus installed and up-to-date across all of your businesses’ endpoints. It shouldn’t be your only line of defense, but it can be your first.
Keep Administrative Privileges Restricted
The more you can limit access to various endpoints, the more secure your business will be. Some employees might not like this, but it’s the reality. Every employee should be on a need-to-know basis as far as what they can access. Revisit who has access to what on a regular basis.
Focus On Your People
While you might have the very best and most advanced technical solutions in place, your people really are your main line of defense when it comes to ransomware. Human error is the biggest reason organizations are affected.
Your employees need to be trained to recognize ransomware and know what to do if they encounter a situation that could involve an attack. Again, ransomware attacks rely heavily on the human element, which is one way they’re different from other cyberattacks.
Along with training employees on avoiding ransomware through emails, don’t forget about your social media policy. A lot of ransomware is delivered through what’s called spear phishing. Spear phishing relies on the gathering of information from social media. You want to limit what your employees put on social media that’s related to their work as much as you can.
Some specific things to train employees on as far as emails include, first, not opening any emails in the spam folder or from recipients they don’t know. Attachments that are from an unknown origin shouldn’t be opened either.
You have to remember that humans are the weakest link when it comes to cybersecurity. That can include you as well, and many ransomware attacks are now targeting senior-level staff more than they did in the past. Train your employees frequently and update that training as needed.
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