Top 5 Tactics to Combat Ransomware

In recent years, ransomware has become a significant threat to businesses and individuals alike. The malicious software encrypts data and demands payment in exchange for the decryption key. To help protect your organization from the consequences of a ransomware attack, here are the top five tactics to combat ransomware:

1. Protect Yourself

One of the most effective ways to prevent a ransomware attack is to educate yourself and your employees on how to identify and avoid malicious emails and links. This includes avoiding suspicious emails, verifying the sender of an email before opening attachments or clicking on links, and keeping software and security systems up-to-date. Security Awareness is a key tactic.

2. Secure Your Infrastructure

Securing your infrastructure is critical in preventing a ransomware attack. This includes implementing firewalls, anti-virus software, and backup systems to keep your data safe. You should also make sure that all software and systems are regularly updated to ensure that any vulnerabilities are patched. In particular, as of 2022 the majority of ransomware was written to attack Microsoft windows and having a non-windows based backup system is a strategy to ensure a recovery is possible. Proprietary backup architecture that doesn’t use windows or network shares is a prudent strategy of Business Continuity.

3. Test, Test, and Test Some More

It is essential to regularly test your security systems to ensure that they are working correctly and that you can detect a potential attack. This includes performing regular penetration tests, security audits, and backups to ensure that your data is safe in case of a ransomware attack. In addition, some ransomware gets into backup files so ensure that restored backup doesn’t have ransomware in the backup. 3-2-1 backup is a key strategy.

4. Proactive Detection

Proactive detection is another important aspect of combating ransomware. This includes monitoring your network for unusual activity and setting up alerts to notify you of any potential attacks. Additionally, you should keep an eye on the latest ransomware threats and trends and be prepared to respond quickly if an attack occurs. Having a backup system that is ransomware aware can identify potential ransomware on the network before it has been exploited.

5. Fast Recovery

Finally, having a fast and efficient recovery plan is critical in case of a ransomware attack. This includes having a robust backup system in place and regularly testing it to ensure that your data can be quickly restored. Additionally, having a clear and well-communicated incident response plan in place can help minimize the impact of an attack and ensure that your organization can quickly recover. Remembering that a majority of business’ fail within 2 years of loosing their data, this is a key Business Continuity strategy.

In conclusion, combating ransomware requires a combination of education, technology, and preparation. By implementing these top five tactics, you can help protect your organization from the consequences of a ransomware attack and minimize its impact.

NetAccess NAS Café on Ransomware

Ransomware, are you prepared to fight or prepared to pay up?