Glasgow Business IT Support
Ayrshire IT Support for Business
Lanarkshire IT Services
Glasgow Business IT Support
Ayrshire IT Support for Business
Lanarkshire IT Services
Sooner or later your business WILL be attacked. (yes you read it properly. now please read it again!) Unfortunately, ransomware is on the rise, so you need to be prepared in the event your business becomes a target.
Ransomware occurs when cyber criminals hack into your network, then stop you from accessing your own data by encrypting it. They then charge you a ransom fee to get it back. As you can imagine, this can be costly for your business, both physically and regarding your reputation.
If you’re wondering whether you’re ay risk- yes! Any business and all businesses are being targeted all the time. This is due to automated tools which are perfect for hackers to use and target small businesses. These types of businesses tend to invest less time and money into the preventative measures they need with their online security as opposed to large companies. Did you know it is thought that a business is infected with ransomware every 14 seconds? Can you afford to pay a fee worth thousands of pounds?
Phishing emails are one of the most common causes of ransomware, with up to 42% of attacks happening via this method. A phishing email looks very normal, just like any other email. It will ask you a specific action, such as to click on a link. Once clicked- hey presto- the hackers are in. This could happen to anyone in your team.
23% of attacks come from malicious websites, with 21% occurring due to compromised passwords. Hackers take weeks to set up these attacks. Unfortunately, once the criminal is in, they can be very stealth, causing an absolute wreckage in the background. During this time, they are wreaking havoc that makes it almost impossible for an IT security company, like ACU IT, to undo. Therefore, so many companies end up paying whopping fees, especially when the preventative measures haven’t been put in place
We’re not talking hundreds of thousands, but hackers can manage to get a few thousand out of you. Can you afford to pay £5,000 to a cyber criminal? The ransom will very much depend on what amount they think the business has to offer. Unfortunately, almost 50% of businesses end up having to pay the ransom due to being so ill prepared for a cyber-attack.
Pricing goes beyond money value too, with other consequences happening due to the attack. Things such as being behind on work due to not being able to access data or systems, and of course the worse, a damage to your reputation.
On the back of this, it will take you longer to get back on track as you learn the new systems and security measures that would then need to be put in place. If you aren’t prepared for something like this before it happens to you, the likelihood is the outcome will be much more severe on your business
Rather just read online we also have Magazine version
Unfortunately, it’s almost impossible to stop a ransomware attack occurring. However, you can prepare and reduce the damage if it should happen to you. Below are five important steps you can take to improve your ransomware resilience and help to keep your network safe.
Software is vital if you want to keep your business safe from unwanted ransomware attacks. However, there is a negative to it and that’s becoming too comfortable with what you have in place that you rely on software alone to detect attacks and try to stop them.
That’s why it’s so important you act like there’s nothing protecting you. Get your team trained and up to date with the latest threats so that they know not to click malicious links or emails.
It’s one thing having software in place to help protect your systems, but you need to ensure they are robust and only allow approved apps to be used on your network. Your IT partner should be both reactive and proactive, meaning they get hands on in critical situations where a ransomware attack is successful. They will also consistently be monitoring your systems in the long run and preventing attacks before they impact your business.
When hit with a ransomware attack, the attackers will stop at nothing to ensure you pay their ransom. This means they’ll target your backup files too. It is crucial you implement and rigid back-up and recovery approach to all your business’ data to ensure the attackers leave empty handed.
Try to use firewalls that restrict what data comes in and out and remember to frequently back-up your data – ideally to the cloud.
Being prepared for a ransomware attack puts you and your business at a significant advantage. Why? Because the earlier you act, the less damage is caused. So, create a detailed plan and make sure everyone knows what to expect. Also, don’t forget to regularly test it to measure its effectiveness.
We’ve said it before and we will say it again, prepare! The sooner you can get your business back on its feet after an attack, the less money you’ll lose. Not forgetting, the more likely your customers won’t lose faith in you.
Every business will fall victim to some form of ransomware attack at least once in their lifetime, that’s why it’s a no brainer when it comes to staying prepared and ready to face the challenge head on.
Make your business ransomware resilient today and start taking action to keep your data safe.
For more information on preparing for a ransomware attack , download our PDF Guide.
If you need some advice on how to keep your data safe, get in touch with AcuIT Solutions today by calling 0141 255 1617
Contact us today. We’ve got plenty of ideas to make your business more efficient.
Office Location
Your Local IT support company since 2005
We have been delivering outstanding Managed IT support and IT helpdesk services to businesses, charities, and not-for-profit organizations across Scotland from our Glasgow headquarters since 2005.
Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved.
