Is your business prepared for the possibility of a ransomware attack? Information technology makes doing business more efficient; most organizations can’t run without it. However, with all its benefits comes the risk of cybersecurity threats.

Ransomware attacks work by a malicious party sending software into your system that can encrypt your data. You no longer have access to the data you need to run your business until you pay the bad-acting attacker to release it. This can be especially damaging for companies that hold sensitive information, as attackers can charge to return the data and to not expose it.

In 2021, 59%  of organizations experienced a cybersecurity breach. The average cost of those attacks was $3.8 million. In this post, we’ll go over how you can strengthen your cybersecurity and how InterVision’s Ransom Protection as a Service ™ (RPaaS™) can help protect your organization’s future.

 

How Can Ransomware Attacks Be Prevented?

The good news is that ransomware attacks can be prevented with the right steps. If you don’t have a dedicated cybersecurity team, you may be asking: “What is ransomware protection?”

A good ransomware protection plan has contingencies for both prevention and recovery. To effectively prevent ransomware attacks, your security system needs to be able to detect incoming malware and protect your files from being accessed by unauthorized parties.

In the event of a breach, you need to have a recovery plan set up ahead of time. By creating a backup of your data center in the cloud, you can keep your business running–even if an attacker attempts to hold your data ransom.

 

Is Windows 10 Safe from Ransomware?

Windows 10 is a widely used operating system, and it does come with basic ransomware protection. You can find Windows Defender under the Virus and Threats settings, then turn on folder protection. This prevents outside sources from making changes to the selected files, and if you connect to Microsoft OneDrive, you can also set up recovery files.

Even though the protection offered by Windows 10 is better than nothing, it has slower database update times and limited dark web monitoring. When it comes down to it, Windows 10 just doesn’t have the capacity to reliably keep your business safe from cyber-attacks.

To guarantee the safety of your data and the functionality of your business, you are better off with a comprehensive ransomware protection plan, like RPaaS offered by InterVision.

 

What Is the Best Defense Against Ransomware?

The best defense against ransomware attacks is to take a holistic approach. Get the best results from your security system by including the following:

• Security Information and Event Management (SIEM): SIEM technology keeps track of security alerts and log data to provide real-time analysis and keep you ahead of threats.
• Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS): DRaaS provides businesses with a third-party location to backup files to. If your business loses access to its data, you can access the backup files.
• Blockchain as a Service (BaaS): BaaS can secure private messaging and the sensitive information it holds at a higher level than end-to-end encryption.

When it comes to leaving nothing out, trust the security experts at InterVision to get the job done right.

Prevent Ransomware Best Practices

When implementing your ransomware defense system, ensure that it has the following built in to achieve long-term success:

• Data Segmentation: If all of your data shares the same access point, then an attacker only needs to find one way in to hold all of your data ransom. By segmenting your data and creating multiple access points, you build resiliency. If an attacker holds one segment hostage, you still have a chance of functioning with the rest.
• Keeping Backups: A ransomware attack can cripple your business because you lose data that you need for essential functions. However, if you have backup data, you can use it to continue running your business while you resolve the attack.
• Stress Testing: Are you at risk for a ransomware attack? By conducting regular testing against your security system, you can evaluate the risk level for cyber threats. Most importantly, you’ll learn what your weaknesses are so you can fix them before an attacker takes advantage of them.

Outpower and outmaneuver data attackers with a plan built for both prevention and resiliency.

Ransomware Risk Assessment Template

Businesses in the United States are at the highest risk of ransomware attacks, receiving 18% of global attacks. To gauge your risk level, consider how your business ranks in the following:

• Do you currently have a ransomware protection plan? If not, does your operating system come with built-in defense capabilities? Are they enabled? Without a defense system, hackers can access and encrypt your files.
• Are your files only accessible by internal members? Are your employees trained on how to move files within your database without granting permission to outsiders? Accidents happen. The more your employees understand cyber safety, the better protected you’ll be.
• Do you regularly back up your data? If your data is held for ransom, a backup set will allow your business to keep running.
• Do you store sensitive information–like product plans or medical records–that would attract attackers? If you have more valuable information, you’ll become a higher target.

This list offers a great starting point to evaluate if you’re on the right track to protecting your data. If answering the questions reveals that you’re not keeping up with your cyber security, it’s time to call a professional.

Long-Term Ransomware Protection

With most ransomware protection services, you either get protection or data recovery—not both. That’s where InterVision Unified Technologies comes in. We combine protection, recovery, and a team of skilled technical specialists to provide a level of cybersecurity that businesses can’t on their own. Contact us to learn more about our full coverage plan that gives you the peace of mind to keep doing what you do best–running your business.