Ransomware is on the rise, but falling victim to one is not the end of the world. You can try some of these ransomware tips to protect your users and organization.
The state of ransomware in 2023 so far
Businesses need to deal with ransomware both from outside and within. On one hand, there are more cybercriminals trying to infiltrate your network. On the other hand, careless and unknowing staff can easily let a ransomware attack enter your network. For instance, employees may be tricked into providing their access credentials on phishing sites, or they may click links to websites that upload ransomware downloaders onto their machines.
The statistics are sobering. Ransomware cost businesses on average $1.85 million per incident. Over the past five years, ransomware attacks have increased at a rate of 80% year-over-year. In fact, 71% of businesses have been affected in 2022. Ransomware campaigns that were initiated from phishing emails also increased by 109% in the same span of time this year.
According to studies, there is a ransomware attack targeting a business every 19 seconds in 2023. That is up from every 14 seconds in 2019, and every 40 seconds in 2016. And the trend is that the rate will continue to increase over the years with a projected ransomware attack every 2 seconds by 2031.
Ransomware Prevention
But even when you can get your data back for free, getting hit with ransomware is no walk in the park. So how to prevent ransomware attacks and how to recover from one? There are essentially three basic approaches for ransomware protection:
- Employee Training – First, train your employees about what they should and shouldn’t open when browsing the web and checking email.
- Data Backup – Second, back up your data as often as possible to quarantined storage. As long as access to your backed-up data is extremely limited and not directly connected to your network, you should be able to restore everything in case of an infection.
- Regular Sofware Updates – Finally, regularly update all your software solutions (operating systems, productivity software, and antivirus). Most big-name vendors are quick to patch vulnerabilities, and you’ll prevent a large portion of infections just by staying up to date.
Whether it’s dealing with an infection or preventing one, the best option is to always seek professional advice from seasoned IT technicians. It’s possible that you could decrypt your data with the tools listed above, but most ransomware strains destroy your data after a set time limit, and you may not be able to beat the clock. And even if you do, you probably won’t have the expertise to discern where your security was penetrated.
Ransomware Recovery
As we mentioned previously, Ransomware attacks can be devastating, causing extensive damage to an organization’s data and reputation with an average cost of $1.85 million per incident.
Ransomware recovery requires a multifaceted approach that includes identifying and containing the infection, restoring data from backups, and implementing enhanced security measures to prevent future attacks. However, recovery efforts must also consider the emotional toll that a ransomware attack can take on an organization’s employees, partners, and customers. Supporting the people affected by the attack, while focusing on restoring data and systems, can help ensure a successful recovery from a ransomware attack.
Ransomware Consulting
Ransomware consulting services are becoming increasingly vital in today’s digital landscape, where cyber threats are on the rise. These services involve working with organizations to develop a comprehensive ransomware protection strategy. By assessing their current security posture and identifying vulnerabilities, ransomware consultants are able to implement appropriate countermeasures to prevent and mitigate ransomware attacks.
Additionally, ransomware consulting services may provide incident response planning and guidance in the event of a ransomware attack. Hiring a professional cybersecurity consultant can help organizations stay ahead of the ever-evolving threat landscape. Don’t waste time fighting a never-ending stream of cyberattacks. Mitigate the financial and reputational damage that a ransomware attack can cause with ransomware consulting. Contact us today to find out more.