How to Protect Your Charleston Business from Ransomware
Across all industries, companies rely on digital technology systems to run their day-to-day operations. It’s clear then why news reports that highlight cyber attacks are particularly frightening.
A study by Veronis has shown that only 5% of businesses have data which is properly protected. A University of Maryland study states there is a hacker attack every 39 seconds, an average of 2,224 times per day. The study also shows a rise in security breaches by over 11% between 2018 and 2019.
With the accelerating rate of cyber attacks, it’s safe to say that now is a more important time than ever to protect your Charleston company from criminals.
What is Ransomware?
Targeted companies are forced to choose between paying the ransom amount to have their system access returned, or risk the consequences of not giving into the hacker’s demands. Even when paying the ransom, there is no guarantee that the stolen information won’t still be used by the attackers.
These attacks are extremely common and affect companies of all sizes. In 2016, Uber reportedly paid $100,000 to hackers so that they could conceal a data breach in which hackers stole 57 million names, email addresses and phone numbers. In 2017, 22% of companies in 2017 reported that their operations were halted due to a ransomware attack.
In the years since, advances in cybercriminal technologies have led to increased attacks and greater threats to more businesses and their customers. In 2019, British Airways had a breach in their security system where customers were directed to a false site. 500,000 customers had their data stolen that day.
Some ransomware infections happen when someone clicks on what looks like an innocent link, sent through an email or other method disguised as coming from a trusted source. Other, bigger attacks happen with cracked passwords or software exploits.
Businesses everywhere face the threat of harm to their data, halting their operations, and ruined reputations among customers whose information is at stake. Now is the time for all businesses to take back control and ensure security.
How to Protect your Company from A Ransomware Attack
If you want to make sure that your business is protected from harmful attacks, you have to invest in the right core aspects of your security system. You can do this by following the below steps:
Implement a Layered Security Architecture
It’s essential to examine your current security measures. Your IT infrastructure should ensure protection against new threats and identify whether incoming users have the right permissions to access the system. A layered security architecture should be able to manage this and prevent outside intruders from infiltrating the system.
Create Procedures for Incident-Reports
When incidents occur, it’s important to have previously established methods to handle them.
Having set procedures can expedite the process of collecting a full report on what happened and getting the information to those who address it without delay. A detailed report allows for analysis of what occurred to prevent further incidents in the future that might damage your business.
Set up Proxy Servers
This is another vital step of you securing your businesses’ data. Proxy servers work to maintain your inside information by acting as a firewall.
A good proxy server prevents company users and customers from connecting to harmful online links. They provide privacy for the users by ensuring that others can’t see your history or web requests which could give them access to sensitive information within your transactions.
Find a Secure Hosting Option
Secure hosting options are essential for all businesses. A private cloud server or other hosting option helps keep control of your data on a single platform.
This streamlines business processes by preventing slowdowns from managing various platforms. If it’s secure, the hosting option allows business members to access needed data without allowing others in.
Hire a Managed Service Provider (MSP):
It’s vital that you choose a reliable IT service manager as they can work with you to identify and implement needed protections for your business.
An MSP can make sure that you have a layered architecture that provides sufficient security for your network, develop incident-report automation, and set up a proxy server that provides the appropriate protection.
Your MSP will be able to switch you to a secure hosting network and provide continuous monitoring to uncover sophisticated ransomware threats. They will also help you to patch any vulnerabilities so you can avoid attacks in the future.
A quality IT company can provide the support you need for your business to ensure valuable time, money, and reputation isn’t lost due to cyber attacks. Hiring an MSP allows you to ensure your business network security and keep it updated against new and evolving threats.
