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Cyberattacks nowadays happen on a larger scale than ever before. Ill-intended actors are bold enough to launch attacks on large companies (see the Colonial Pipeline case), entire healthcare systems, and even countries.
Since most of our systems are powered by technology and connected to the internet, these attacks have significant consequences and often end up costing millions of dollars. And the sad part is that most of the attackers get away with it because it’s very difficult to identify the culprit.
Ransomware is one method of attack that’s highly lucrative for cybercriminals because of the way it operates. Ransomware is a type of malware that blocks user access to infected devices by encrypting all the files on said device. And the only way to get your data and access back is by paying the ransom (usually in an untraceable crypto coin).
Prevention is the Best Defense
So, to avoid frantically looking out for methods that would help remove ransomware from your computer, it’s better to be prepared. Here are a few measures any company and organization should put in place:
#1: Create Plans & Policies
Every company needs an incident response plan, so everyone knows what to do in the event of an attack. This way, if one of the units in your network gets infected, your team will know what measures to take to prevent the infection from spreading throughout the entire network.
Also, you need to put in place rigorous policies that clearly specify who has the right to access what in the company. Plus, you must prevent people from using personal devices to connect to the company network.
This policy is especially important for workers who have to adjust to a remote working environment on the go.
Lastly, keep in mind that most security penetration attempts come via email disguised as clever phishing. So it’s best to have a well-designed suspicious email policy.
#2: Multi-Factor Authentication
If you think about it, most of our digital belongings are protected by passwords. However, these are no longer enough, even though you follow all the instructions for creating a proper, secure password.
That’s why we need to step up a notch and move toward multi factor authentication, where there are one or more extra steps before being successfully authenticated. The most common method is two-factor authentication or 2FA, and it usually involves using the user’s smartphone as an extra step.
Still, this doesn’t mean an account protected by 2FA is entirely foolproof. That’s why you can’t rely on this method alone.
#3: Regular Backups
Backups are a viable solution to a ransomware attack because you can just ignore the message, wipe up the hard drives, and restore the backup. You’ll have a day or two of downtime, but you don’t have to pay millions of dollars to get the business running again.
The secret is to have a solid backup system that runs at the end of each work day and makes copies of essential data. Plus, you should have several backup storage locations, and at least one of them should not be connected to the internet.
#4: Train Your Employees
Nowadays, every employee needs at least basic cybersecurity training. That’s because they all handle emails, documents, and accounts while using the business’s network, so it’s enough for someone to make one mistake to open a door for ill-intended actors.
Wrap Up
Ill-intended actors have more power and resources than ever, so businesses and organizations everywhere must take cybersecurity a lot more seriously. It takes a multilayered system to keep most threats at bay, but even if your security gets pierced, you can minimize the damage with the right policies and plans in place.