Cyber security is crucial for your business. There are different types of attacks that threaten all types of companies. However, the most recent and spread issue is ransomware. It is considered the most difficult to trace. The number of such attacks has grown significantly, and it demands expertise and profound knowledge of cyber security service providers to help you get protected from this R-word.
To understand the scope of this issue, we suggest you get acquainted with this simple statistics data:
- 25% of cyber security attacks are in the form of ransomware (derived from Verizon’s 2022 Data Breach Incident Report)
- the most significant ransomware attacks that happened in 2021 cost companies from 4 to 40 million dollars in ransom
- the recovery cost was up to almost 2 million dollars (for each case)
These are just the statistical data that does not comprise the collateral damage caused. As you want to secure your business and its data from all aspects, take a look at these approaches to preventing ransomware attacks. Nevertheless, take into account the fact that there is no single remedy for all companies. There are a lot of things to consider. Anyway, get yourself acquainted with these pieces of advice.
- Pursue CISA or NIST recommendations
Among all possible frameworks that help prevent ransomware attacks, CISA’s Ransomware Guide or/and NIST’s Cybersecurity Framework Profile for Ransomware Risk Management are regarded as the most efficient. In order to resist such attacks, they offer a range of guidelines and procedures to be secured. The primary thing you need to consider. Will it be possible to implement these approaches and practices into your business? Is it an acceptable practice for your company?
- Investment in the right cyber security technology
The 21st-century cyber security business is actually in bloom. When we state that ransomware is changing, evolving, and getting less and less intractable, so are the cyber security technology companies. Why is it important to know? You have to choose the right technology to invest in. As mentioned before, there is no single solution for all businesses, so you have to opt for the most efficient precisely for you. Among the most common measures and solutions, there are XDR (Extended Detection and Response), EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response), MDR (Managed Detection and Response), 2FA (two-factor authentication), and zero trust segmentation. Having the proper cyber security partner, you are able to analyze, examine and define the most suitable solution to protect your business from ransomware attacks.
- Be aware of the most common ransomware breaches.
How do you think it is possible to foresee what kind of ransomware attack you might experience? Of course, not. However, keeping all the variants in mind and developing defense options against them is a good practice to follow. Having the knowledge of the most common ransomware, you are able to get yourself ready for them. Of course, there are thousands of them. Of course, you can’t be sure that some other types of this malware will appear. However, getting yourself prepared will mitigate any threat and even stop the attack.
- Divide ransomware attacks into phases
What does it mean? There are so many thoughts on ransomware security measures. Some suggest preventing any interventions. Others say that the best way is to stop the spread after the attack has actually happened. One more opinion is to detect and fight breaches at the moment of happening. What should you do then? Our advice is to be prepared at all these stages. It implies preventive measures, cyber attack detection measures, and breach fixation measures. In plain language, be fully equipped.
Now that you have got a gist of how to fight ransomware attacks, we would like to disappoint you a little. The approaches mentioned above are one-side measures. Meaning that you can’t get inside cybercriminals’ heads. Moreover, it is not always so easy to implement everything in practice, even though, theoretically, it looks substantial. What are the underwater stones?
- Hard to engage CISA and NIST
CISA and NIST frameworks are rather complicated to develop and implement. Even though they prove to be effective against ransomware attacks, it is actually challenging to deploy them in real life. The solution is to partner only with experienced cyber security companies.
- No single technology against ransomware
When you start researching cyber security technology options, you will stumble upon one thing – all of them claim to be the most efficient in fighting against ransomware attacks. Of course, we cannot state they are not effective. However, most of them aim at protecting against particular aspects of ransomware attacks. So, be cautious to prevent all the systems from any possible breaches and do not leave any vulnerabilities unsolved.
- Evolving ransomware forms
We have already mentioned the fact that ransomware breaches do not stay the same. Ransomware TTPs (tactics, techniques, and procedures) are evolving and changing, thus, becoming more and more unpredictable. If you want to keep your business secure all the time, you should treat that as a permanent concern. You can’t be protected only from current forms of ransomware, but always be alert and update security measures.
- Complex samples of ransomware attacks
This is something we have already discussed. Remember to predict and protect all possible phases of ransomware attacks, as they are complex and consist of different stages. Treat every stage as a separate threat and breach instead of considering it as a whole.
Conclusions
We can’t say that ransomware is impossible to prevent or stop. The main thing is that it is a developing and continually upgrading threat, which requires more protection and security measures to take. The set of skills, which is necessary for dealing with this evil, is usually unique, pricey, and selective. As an owner or manager of the business, don’t be afraid to be picky when choosing a cyber security service provider. Professional and experienced teams will make sure your company is fully armed against any pattern of ransomware breaches. And bare in mind that you can’t handle it yourself!