The Three Best Ways to Prevent Ransomware Attacks

What Are The Very Best Ways To Prevent Ransomware Attacks?

Ransomware attacks are becoming increasingly commonplace. Discover what measures you can take to prevent your business from being victimized by cybercriminals.  

Ransomware attacks rose by 41% in 2019 alone, impacting nearly one thousand companies throughout the United States. No industry or business is immune as cybercriminals target any vulnerable victim they can find and extort. Thankfully, there are tried-and-proven ways to prevent ransomware attacks on your business, protecting your employees and customers from the devastating aftereffects of having their personal information compromised.

 

1. Have a Solid Disaster Recovery Plan in Place

The FBI recommends that business owners do not pay cybercriminals in the wake of a ransomware attack. However, to avoid having to shell out money to get your data back, you’ll need a reliable data back-up system that automatically and securely backs up all your files. This system should include both in-house and cloud-based back-ups and it should be tested regularly to ensure there won’t be any problems restoring your files in the event of a ransomware attack.

2. Put a Premium on Cybersecurity

Is your business using the best cybersecurity tools on the market? If not, you’re leaving a door open for hackers to attack your systems. Every single business should have:

• A VPN that keeps communications encrypted as they travel to and from your network
• Next-generation firewall software that provides endpoint security and strong protection from unauthorized access
• Top-tier, regularly updated antivirus and anti-malware programs

It’s also important to either have someone who can continually update all your software programs or switch over to a cloud-based SaaS platform such as Microsoft Office 365. Failure to update your software allows vulnerabilities in your programs to go unchecked, making it easy for hackers to get into your network undetected.

If you need help upgrading your cybersecurity and keeping your systems safe at all times, it may be wise to consider partnering with a local IT managed service provider. IT MSPs offer top-tier cybersecurity tools and expertise; what’s more, they will proactively monitor your systems for any signs of unusual activity that could lead to a breach.

3. Provide Ongoing IT Cybersecurity Training to All Your Staff Members

A single click on a malicious email attachment or innocent-looking link is all it takes to set off a ransomware attack that could cost your business tens of thousands of dollars. Providing your staff members with ongoing IT cybersecurity training is one of the best, most effective ways to protect your business from all types of breaches. A good IT cybersecurity training program will:

• Teach your staff members how to use basic best cybersecurity practices such as selecting strong passwords and setting up two-factor authentication
• Help your employees recognize potentially malicious emails and pop-ups
• Give your staff members training in how to handle a ransomware attack in progress to limit the amount of damage done by the attack

IT managed services typically offer ongoing IT cybersecurity training programs tailored to meet the needs of any given client. What’s more, your IT MSP can also conduct ongoing cybersecurity testing to ensure that your employees are implementing the cybersecurity procedures learned during the training sessions.

Introducing Integrated365: Your Ransomware Recovery Team In Dallas

Integrated365 is a top-rated Dallas-based IT service company that specializes in meeting the IT needs of start-ups and growing businesses, established enterprises, manufacturing companies, oil/gas companies, and medical institutions. We have all the tools and expertise you need to not only protect your business from cyberattacks but also optimize your network to help you save time and money, offer improved customer services, better use your business data to generate sales and profits, and much more. Get in touch with us at your convenience to schedule an appointment with our IT experts and discover for yourself why we’re the IT partner of choice for Dallas business owners.