Ransomware is a type of malicious software that encrypts your data and demands a ransom to restore it. It can affect any device, network, or organization, and cause serious damage, disruption, and financial loss. In this article, you will learn how to protect your data from ransomware by following some best practices for awareness and training.
Ransomware attacks often start with phishing emails, fake websites, or infected downloads that trick you into clicking on a malicious link or opening an attachment. These can install the ransomware on your device or network, and lock your files or display a ransom note. To avoid falling victim to these scams, you should always be suspicious of any unexpected or unsolicited email, website, or download, and never click on anything that looks suspicious or unfamiliar. You should also use a reliable antivirus software and firewall, and keep them updated regularly.
Some of the signs of any kind of malware is a slow system. One of the best things that you can do as a small company is to have an IT Audit done of your network. What that is about two different ways to do this. One go find a ethical hacker to attempt to break into your network. The second way is to have a different IT team come in and evaluate your network. There a couple of ways to do this. 1 They come and evaluate all your processes, practices and applications. Deloitte and Touche or other large accounting service firms will do this for you. Needs to be somebody outside the organization. 2 The other way is to use a different vulnerability scan tool to scan your network
One of the most effective ways to protect your data from ransomware is to backup your data regularly and securely. This means creating copies of your important files and storing them in a separate location, such as an external hard drive, a cloud service, or a network drive. You should also encrypt your backups and test them periodically to make sure they work. By backing up your data, you can restore it in case of a ransomware attack, and avoid paying the ransom or losing your data permanently.
You need to plan for the take over of the machine or a major natural event where you can get back and running with minimum of last time. 1. If you have a small company with just a single location. Back it up to the cloud or tape back up away from your location. 2. If you are a large organization with multiple locations. Have conference rooms or cafeteria that can be changed over to a recovery area at multiple sites. 3 But the back up away from the site is key 4 Also one last thing you might think about shutting down the router to the internet and limiting it to business hours. You can have a server facing the internet with the corporate info page up all the time.
Another way to protect your data from ransomware is to update your software and systems frequently. This means installing the latest security patches and updates for your operating system, applications, and devices, as they can fix vulnerabilities and bugs that ransomware can exploit. You should also enable automatic updates or set reminders to check for updates regularly. By updating your software and systems, you can reduce the risk of ransomware infections and improve your overall security.
Passwords should changed away from the factory default passwords for all devices. Printer technicians coming into the building to repair and service devices should be escorted by a junior tech with the password. Why junior so the guy can learn something. Printers should have the latest firmware on them. Every printer manufacturer has free tools that can be set up on your network to push firmware updates and manage settings. Close down unused TCP/IP ports on all devices. Printers need to ftp port turned off. Turn it on update the firmware and then turn it back off. This is the same for all unused protocols. A lot of the older printers used Java to write their firmware. These printers need to be gotten off the network or buried.
Ransomware awareness and training are essential for protecting your data from ransomware, especially if you work in a team or an organization. This means learning about the latest ransomware threats, trends, and techniques, and sharing this information with your colleagues, employees, or clients. You should also establish and follow clear policies and procedures for data security, backup, and recovery, and train your team on how to prevent, detect, and respond to ransomware attacks. By educating yourself and your team, you can increase your preparedness and resilience against ransomware.
Should have a common place for all procedure's and policies. I do not like wiki's. They should be stored by application. At the top of the procedure and policy should be a brief description of what the software does and is used for. Some of obvious ones like office maybe not. As a long time contractor that is one of the biggest hurdles. Learn who can lean on to learn applications. In the medical world that is the nurses. They are better technicians than many of the help desk technicians. Implement a personality system like "DISC" so your people can learn to talk to others in their language. "DISC" was developed for sales people to quickly assess their customers. I have used it successfully on the helpdesk and dealing with everyone
It is essential for companies to have Incident Response (IR) plans in place to address any cybersecurity incidents that may occur. These plans should be regularly updated and tested through IR tabletops to ensure they are effective and can be implemented efficiently. Additionally, companies should have a clear understanding of their cyber policy, including policy workflows and limits. This understanding will help companies to identify potential risks and take appropriate measures to mitigate them. By having a robust IR plan, regularly running tabletop exercises, and understanding their cyber policy, companies can improve their overall cybersecurity posture and better protect their assets from potential threats.
Just as there are benefits carrying out a fire drill, simulating an attack can reveal weakpoints. Discovering who is most likely to fall for a fake email for example could help decide how you give out access to your systems and/or who needs training.
To increase the impact of awareness training, it should happen all year, not just once. A single yearly event where employees gather in a room or do an hour of e-learning doesn't help them remember things well. They get too much information at once and forget it too quickly. Regular training is important as it helps to maintain awareness and build a security culture. The training should be to the point, as nobody can dedicate much time to the topic. Engaging, to capture attention, and relatable to everybody's day-to-day.
If you or your team encounter a ransomware attack, you should report and recover from it as soon as possible. This means disconnecting your device or network from the internet and other devices, and contacting your IT support or security provider. You should also report the incident to the relevant authorities, such as the police, the cybercrime unit, or the national cybersecurity agency, as they can help you investigate and track the attackers. You should also avoid paying the ransom, as this can encourage more attacks and does not guarantee the recovery of your data. Instead, you should try to restore your data from your backups, or use a reputable ransomware removal tool or service.