Ransomware Attacks in 2022: Tips for Protecting Data

Ransomware is a malicious software that is used for encryption to hold data for ransom. It has become one of the key threats to companies over the last few years.

However, organisations gather more data than ever before, the surface area of the risk will increase when an incident materialises.

Most data security practitioners make the biggest mistake in treating ransomware attacks as any other cyber attack. For instance, the mobile data breach made huge headlines when the telecom network confirmed that the hackers’ had stolen the information of the former customers. The stolen data like name, address, number, security pins, and all are fully personal information. One of the biggest reasons for increasing the threat level is remote work transition.

Why is ransomware a big threat?

The ransomware attacks are everywhere, from local governments to large companies. It is a fairly simple malware, but it is extremely damaging. Once it enters the system, the malware accesses the system or encrypts the files. However, ransomware uses modern encryption techniques, and it is tough to recover the file without accessing the decryption key.

The ransomware operator is the only one to access the key, and the victim is forced to pay the ransom. The victim also needs to pay the cost of interrupted business, replace infected machines and put some protection to prevent a future attack.

Ransomware can have a bigger impact on an organisation than a data breach. But, as per the Security service Corpus Christi estimates more than 90 percent of ransomware attacks can be preventable.

Tips to protect against ransomware in 2022

Set up the firewall

The firewall is a secure host that acts as a wall between your internal and outside networks. So, set up the firewall to protect your network’s data from outside access.

Data backup

Backups can help avoid the ransom demand by restoring the data from a source rather than the encrypted files. Sometimes, it might be the case; the ransomware does take hold. So, the best action can be to delete everything and start again. However, the cybercriminals also give a look to target some data backups and need to protect these.

The backup strategy is well-known for disaster recovery and it has three copies of the data. So, two in the different media and one kept off-site. Assume the worst is to back up your backups; with this, you will have the tools to rebuild your workstation if you are the victim of a ransomware attack.

Sandbox

It is essential to fight phishing or social engineering attacks, which eventually lead to ransomware attacks. Be prepared with this step for your business. A sandbox is an environment that tricks malware into believing it is interrogating external servers when communicating with fake IP addresses. It detects and analyses advanced attacks and even helps to protect your company from email threats.

Enforce strong password security

With the absence of a strong password, attackers easily make their way into your system. Then they leverage the access to move laterally throughout the network to deploy ransomware.

Endpoint protection (Endpoint Detection & Response)

To catch the unusual activity means to protect your business from ransomware attacks. EDR systems track and analyse users and network traffic to give us visibility against the threats at the endpoint level. This setup provides a platform to protect from threats to your endpoints, network, users, and cloud workloads. However, the antivirus software is not sufficient to get protection. Organisations also need to ensure and adequately protect the endpoint devices by using EDR solutions.

Anti-ransomware security software

An anti-ransomware software tool is great for creating your defences against ransomware. The fast and easy use provides solid protection against the list of common ransomware variants. In addition, when you are subject to an attack, the ransomware removal tool enables the quick removal of the infection.

Conclusion

The tips mentioned above always help you avoid a position where the only way to recover from an attack is to meet the criminals’ demands. Find out the best IT consulting services that help protect your business against ransomware and other threats. To secure your data, call us today and tomorrow.