Businesses Need to Avoid Ransomware; Here’s How

Did you know that ransomware could cost businesses $265 billion by 2031? These numbers are nothing to scoff at, and they are indicative of a serious threat to not just your business, but the business world as we know it. Let’s go over some ways you can keep your organization safe from ransomware.

Ransomware is a Serious Problem for Businesses

Obviously, ransomware costs businesses a lot of money, but where do these costs come from, outside of the ransom, at least? Businesses impacted by ransomware have their files encrypted by a malicious actor. In exchange for a ransom, the malicious entity is supposed to issue a decryption key. This ransom is generally in the range of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars, and even when the ransom is paid, there is no guarantee that the decryption key will work.

Businesses that are unprepared to deal with such a fate could face certain doom. To help you avoid this unfortunate string of circumstances, we’ve put together preventative measures you can take to ensure ransomware doesn’t completely end your business.

Best Practices Against Ransomware

Backup Your Data
If you find yourself on the receiving end of a ransomware attack, your data will be encrypted and, therefore, unusable. If you back up your system using the 3-2-1 rule, you’ll have access to data in just about any circumstance, though. If you want some help with this, we are happy to help.

Train Your Team
Modern cyberattacks utilize phishing scams to trick users into handing out credentials or granting access to infrastructures, or even downloading infected files to deliver payloads. These threats skirt around your security measures and can be quite problematic. Improve employee awareness of these tricks and you’ll have an easier time combating ransomware.

Eliminate Vulnerabilities
If you take action to improve security across the board, you’ll have an easier time avoiding ransomware and other threats. Be sure to patch vulnerabilities as they are discovered within your systems, and ensure that you have preventative systems in place to limit exposure to potential threats.

Limit Privileges
If you limit privileges for specific individuals to just what they need to do their jobs, then you’re limiting the amount of damage they could do if their accounts are compromised. The goal here is to provide a minimum level of access to maximize security.

We are always happy to work with businesses that want to prevent ransomware infections. To learn more, reach out to us at (978) 482-2020.