Ransomware is on the rise and it’s not going away. In fact, it’s only going to become more common as cybercriminals find new ways to exploit businesses and individuals. If you don’t have a ransomware recovery plan in place, you could be in for a world of hurt when your business computers get infected. Here’s what ransomware is and why you need to get prepared for ransomware recovery.
Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts your computer files and holds them hostage until you pay a ransom to the cybercriminals who infected your system. This can be a devastating blow to a business, as it can lose access to important files and data. In some cases, businesses have had to pay the ransom and still not regained access to their files. In other cases, businesses have refused to pay and lost all their data. Either way, it’s a lose-lose situation.
Ransomware is on the rise because it’s an easy way for cybercriminals to make money. All they need is a few computers to infect and they can demand a ransom from each one. And, because ransomware is so effective, it’s only going to become more common.
So, what can you do to protect your business from ransomware?
Do Some Research
You need to know what you’re dealing with before you can create a plan to deal with it. So, do some research on ransomware and find out as much as you can. This way, you’ll be better prepared to deal with it if it does happen to you. Your research could include case studies on attacks that happened to other businesses, and how they dealt with them.
Make A Plan Before Something Happens
The best way to protect your business from ransomware is to have a plan in place before something happens. This way, you can be sure that you have a way to recover your data if you do get infected. The first thing you should look at is investing in some form of ransomware protection. Find an option that suits your business and your budget, and most importantly, takes a robust approach to helping resolve ransomware issues when they arise.
Back Up Your Data
This is one of the most important steps you can take to be fully prepared for dealing with ransomware. You need to have a backup of your data so that you can restore it if you do get infected. There are a few different ways you can back up your data, so find the one that works best for you and make sure you do it regularly. If you work with a ransomware protection company, look for whether they do immutable backups. These are backups that can never be overwritten, meaning original versions of data remain intact and unharmed.
Encrypt Your Data
Another way to protect your data is to encrypt it. This way, even if cybercriminals do manage to get their hands on your data, they won’t be able to do anything with it. Encryption is a great way to protect your data, but you need to make sure you have a way to decrypt it if you do need to access it.
If you work with a ransomware protection company, find out how they secure, store and encrypt data. Look for things like multiple check points to validate there is no malicious intent before they release data, as well as innovative encryption procedures.
Quick Recovery Process
When you do get ransomware, you need to be able to quickly and easily recover your data. As such, you’ll need to make sure you have the technology in place to restore your data and systems once the threat has been dealt with. One benefit of working with a ransomware protection company is that they should have a process for virtually restoring your data. Having backups of your data stored virtually or on the cloud gives you an extra layer of protection, as well as an easier way of restoring everything you need.
Train Your Employees
One of the most common ways that ransomware gets into a business is through phishing emails. These are emails that look like they’re from a trusted source, but are actually from cybercriminals. They often contain attachments or links that, when clicked, will infect your computer with ransomware.
Make sure you train your employees on how to spot phishing emails and what to do if they receive one. You should also have a policy in place for dealing with suspicious emails.
Ransomware is a serious threat to businesses, but it’s one that you can be prepared for. By following the steps above, you can create a ransomware recovery plan that will help you get your business back on track if you do get infected. And, by investing in ransomware protection, you can help to prevent an attack from happening in the first place. Don’t wait until it’s too late, get prepared today.