How Do You Keep Your Data Safe With Ransomware Protection?

No organization is immune to ransomware attacks. Companies ranging from small businesses to global enterprises have been subject to attacks. It is estimated that in 2021 alone, over 300,000 organizations faced ransomware threats. In this article, we will discuss common failures leading to vulnerability to ransomware attacks and tested tips to protect your data from them.

The Failure of Defense

Defending against ransomware involves layers of defensive mechanisms to protect valuable data and information. This layering allows one mechanism to step up immediately to provide protection when the other fails. The question that arises then is how to prevent ransomware from gaining traction when defense-in-depth fails to execute proficiently.

The failure of this defensive framework is indeed possible, which is why ransomware attack incidents are prevalent.  This is why it is important for even small businesses to have robust data prevention strategies. Having a reliable strategy can help companies recover from a variety of worst-case scenarios.

Once your network is under a ransomware attack, the viruses start encrypting files on the computer as fast as they can. After that, they display a popup to the user which explains the situation and tells them to pay a sum of money via a less traceable currency such as Bitcoin.  It also explains that it will decrypt the files once you have paid the required amount.

Backup Takeover

Hackers are well aware that data backups are the last line of defense. If you can successfully recover the backups, then you do not have to pay any ransom. The presence of properly set up backups ensures that hackers cannot penetrate your defensive systems. Without any backup, companies will be left with no option but to pay the ransom. 

In fact, the average hacker spends over 200 days on a particular network, before they begin to encrypt. The reason why they spend so much time is so they can get access to as many systems as possible, including backups.

There is a misconception that a ransomware attack is always caused by a clueless person clicking on an unauthorized link that unleashes software that encrypts your data. Believe it or not, entry to your system can happen in many ways.

It can occur through an email attachment that you download, or a link you click, and sometimes it does not even require any user action at all.  Instead, it can be a result of using an older version of windows that does not have a security patch.

The initial attack solely revolves around gaining entry to your network. Once hackers enter the network, their goal is to compromise credentials, which is the key to their attack.

Ways for Prevention

There are many hacker tools that help perpetrators to attack directory services so they can gain credentials. Equipped with your credentials, hackers can override all defenses. Hence, for the prevention of ransomware, you need to work on preparedness and anticipation.  Below are precautionary steps that you can follow to stay safe from ransomware attacks. 

Safe Online Behavior

This is one of the most rudimentary methods of prevention, which requires the least effort.  Despite being so obvious, many users fail to follow these steps. These can include:

• Not clicking on attachments from dodgy, unknown sources
• Verifying email links before you open them
• Only downloading programs from trusted websites
• Avoiding shady websites in general

Keep Your Computer Up To Date

You should always be quick to make all the updates that your computer requires. To do this in Windows, you can check for updates and once the computer notifies you of all updates, you can install them. Check it out: even if you have your computer on automatic updates, it often fails to do so.

Therefore, make sure to manually do this every once in a while. This is because many times, a windows update will include an updated feature that contributes vastly to malware prevention.

Backup using an External Hardware

It is always a great idea to backup all of your data. However, in the case of ransomware, manual backups can be incredibly helpful. The virus usually infects the computer that it initially invades, but it also sometimes spreads to other devices on the network, as well as connected hard drives. 

Therefore, for the backup to be reliable, you will benefit from backing up the data to a manual hard drive that is not connected to your network. However, transferring to an external offline hard drive comes with a setback.

Since the hard drive is not connected constantly, there is no way in which you can automatically backup all data. Instead, you have to remember to manually connect it once in a while so that you can refresh it and mitigate the number of things you could possibly lose if the infection was to occur.

Integrate a Ransomware Protection Program

If you want to know how to avoid ransomware without having to worry about different backup methods integrating anti-ransomware, you can also resort to other software inclusions and extensions such as anti-malware, VPN, Parental control, and more.

Ransomware remediation can also involve integrating a comprehensive backup solution that allows you to operate the system without ever worrying about the security of your data. One such backup plan takes shape in the form of NAKIVO. Combining your network with the NAKIVO backup solution will not only help prevent ransomware attacks but will also successfully recover important data after the attack, you can learn more by visiting their website.

To Conclude

Most business operations will sooner or later migrate to virtual platforms. This only means that ransomware viruses will have more pathways to invade the system. In other words, as time progresses, your business will soon be more vulnerable to ransomware.  If you are wondering how to protect yourself from ransomware, the simple answer would be to apply the above-mentioned tips.