The threat of ransomware is always present and it is critical businesses take proactive steps to protect themselves from any potential attack. A ransom attack can prove devastating to any organization as it not only halts operations- it also poses a serious risk of a data breach.
With ransom attacks on the rise, you need to learn the basics of security to combat them. This is why we have approached cybersecurity experts and business owners to share practical tips on how you can prepare yourself.
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“According to my experience, your first line of protection against online dangers is your users, ordinary employees, and staff members. Within your company, protecting and educating your employees about cybersecurity should be a top responsibility.
“For good reason, user security awareness and training are at the top of this list. Because it's often easier to mislead individuals into downloading malware which can lead to major security issues, than it is to try to penetrate a company's technical defenses, hackers prefer to target users with phishing assaults and harmful links in emails.
“Humans are often the weakest link in a company's security. This is why, in addition to developing a security awareness training program and promoting a security culture inside your organization, it's vital to train your users how to recognize potentially dangerous links in emails, as emails are the preferred vector of attack.”
Michael Robinson, Security Expert Cheap SSL Security
“In the event of a ransomware attack, data backups are the most effective defense. You can totally avoid any ransom payments by restoring previous copies of your data before it was compromised, rather than giving in to the hacker's demands.” (Ryan Dalal)
“You should take the following steps to ensure smooth data recovery in the event of a ransomware attack:
“At least three copies of your data should be kept on two distinct storage mediums, with one copy kept off-site. For example, you have a production copy of your files on your device, as well as two backup copies kept locally and in the cloud. Even if one set of backups fails, you'll still be able to restore your data.” (Ryan Dalal)
“Data can be automatically copied, sent across the network, and stored on backup servers using proven backup systems. You can even define a backup schedule and choose which types of data are backed up with these solutions.” (Ryan Dalal)
“Backups of data should be kept in a secure location with several security measures in place. This implies that your backup servers should have severe access controls, effective network security, and strong physical security. To protect against ransomware modifications, files should also be extensively encrypted and preserved as read-only.” (Ryan Dalal)
“You should evaluate your backups on a regular basis to ensure that you can use them to recover data in the event of a ransomware attack.”
Ryan Dalal, CEO & Founder of Merge PDF
“Cybercriminals may discover new software flaws over time, allowing them to enter your computers and infect them with ransomware. In reality, many fraudsters today are taking advantage of remote desktop vulnerabilities in old Windows operating systems, which allow ransomware to spread to machines connected to corporate networks. It is therefore important to keep your software, operating systems, and security programs up to date to defend your company from these dangers.
“Patch management software allows you to keep track of software updates and send fixes to all company-registered devices from a single location.”
Jacob Villa, Co-Founder and Marketing Director School Authority
“Ransomware usually infiltrates a network via a phishing link or attachment supplied via email. An employee clicks on a link, allowing ransomware to enter. Email filtering, which almost all email providers have built into their platform, is one technique to combat this. When you employ email filtering, the software examines all incoming emails and flags any messages that could be spam or fraudulent. After that, the software puts the emails in a certain folder. You might discover that your current email solution's malware filters aren't keeping up with the latest virus advancements.”
Daniel Foley, Founder of Daniel Foley SEO
“Ransomware prevention is included in most antivirus software. After all, ransomware is a type of malware. Ransomware protection is included in all major antivirus software utilities, which is especially important today that ransomware is a growing form of destructive criminal activity. As a result, the most efficient strategy to protect yourself from a ransomware assault is to keep your antivirus software up to date across your whole network, even down to individual user devices.
“Remember that this includes Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) and Internet of Things (IoT) machines like sensors and smart gadgets, as well as devices with minimal security protection. More than just servers and laptops should have antivirus software installed. Tablets and mobile devices, particularly smartphones, all require security.”
Daniel Carter, SEO Manager at Office Furniture Online
