Despite the rising ransomware numbers and the numerous related headlines, many small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) still don’t consider themselves at risk from cyberattacks. Nothing could be further from the truth. Smaller organizations are a prime target, and ransomware authors have only upped the ante in their methods to ensure they get paid. For example, many ransomware groups now threaten to expose or sell company data stolen in a breach if victims refuse to pay, meaning the business in question could have to shell out for heavy fines due to GDPR and similar regulations. In many cases, paying the ransom may be the most cost effective (and least publicly embarrassing) option. But what if your business can’t afford it? Or if the downtime from the attack is too much to recover from? And what’s the long-term psychological and emotional toll?
Here are 3 myths about ransomware that businesses need to stop believing to stay resilient against these evolving and insidious attacks.
Myth #1: My company is small, so attackers won’t bother.
The sad truth in today’s cyber climate is that an attack is practically inevitable. The trick is reducing the likelihood of an attack, and making sure critical data is protected in case an attack succeeds. To prepare your business to weather the storm, there are a few key steps you can take.
- Proactively defend against ransomware attacks.
Ransomware typically gets into an organization by tricking a user into downloading a file and/or enabling macros. Combining reliable endpoint protection that can stop macros and malicious scripts with security awareness training for end users is an excellent step toward a proactive and in-depth defense. - Protect your data.
The ransomware business model works because losing access to your data can cause serious damage. A strong backup solution is vital. Full-server backups or asking end users to manage their own backups aren’t the most feasible options. But with the right solution set, there are significantly more efficient ways to ensure data on endpoint devices, servers, and within the Microsoft 365 suite is secured.
Myth #2: There’s no way to prepare for a ransomware attack.
The sad truth in today’s cyber climate is that an attack is practically inevitable. The trick is reducing the likelihood of an attack, and making sure critical data is protected in case an attack succeeds. To prepare your business to weather the storm, there are a few key steps you can take.
- Proactively defend against ransomware attacks.
Ransomware typically gets into an organization by tricking a user into downloading a file and/or enabling macros. Combining reliable endpoint protection that can stop macros and malicious scripts with security awareness training for end users is an excellent step toward a proactive and in-depth defense. - Protect your data.
The ransomware business model works because losing access to your data can cause serious damage. A strong backup solution is vital. Full-server backups or asking end users to manage their own backups aren’t the most feasible options. But with the right solution set, there are significantly more efficient ways to ensure data on endpoint devices, servers, and within the Microsoft 365 suite is secured.
Myth #3: I already have a backup, so I’m safe.
If your business gets hit with an attack, you can and should expect some downtime. And if we accept the maxim “time is money,” then any amount of downtime is costly and potentially damaging. Having backups in place is crucial, but you also need to be able to recover the data you need quickly from safe backups that haven’t also been infected with the ransomware.
Bigger organizations have more resources to invest in redundant servers in secondary locations, but these protections can come at too high a cost for many SMBs. If that sounds like you, you’re not alone. We recommend you look into disaster recovery as a service (DRaaS), so you can leverage the cloud to ensure that critical business systems are online and accessible, no matter what happens on your network.
Next Steps
The one-two combination of proactive prevention and recovery is key for staying cyber resilient. If you start working to address the tips in this blog, you’ll drastically improve your chances of avoiding a ransomware attack entirely; and getting through it successfully if you do get breached.
NUMENTIS can help protect your business from falling victim to the next cyber attack by putting the right solutions and procedures in place to mitigate the risks and severity of any attack. At NUMENTIS we are committed to ensuring your business has the right technology to maximize performance while also being highly reliable and securely protected. Contact us for your complimentary assessment.
