How to Protect Your Small Business Against Ransomware Attacks

Ransomware attacks are an increasingly pervasive threat, and the damage they cause can be devastating to a small business that is caught unaware. Without adhering to the right security protocols, there is little that can be done in the event of a successful attack except to pay the ransom, which only puts a target on your business for the next strain of malware. Thankfully, as dangerous as ransomware is, it can also be avoided by following the security practices below.

Maintain Backups

The first and most important step in protecting your business against ransomware attacks is to establish secure system backups both locally and in the cloud. Having multiple backups creates security through redundancy. Cloud-based backups are especially important because they are inaccessible to hackers even if your on-site data is compromised. Being able to wipe ransomed systems and repair them from secure backup files can save you countless dollars and hours of frustration.

Provide Security Awareness Training

In many cases, ransomware attacks are the result of poor cybersecurity practices on the part of employees, so providing basic security awareness training is a smart way to bolster your first line of defense. Understanding the basics, such as common signs of phishing scams, the danger of public Wi-Fi, and the importance of reporting suspicious links or attachments, can go a long way toward mitigating the risk of ransomware attacks or other malware infections.

Patch and Update

Because malware often relies on taking advantage of security loopholes in outdated software and operating systems, it is crucial to install and apply any patches and updates for devices, apps, and other software that interacts with your network. Though keeping everything up-to-date may be inconvenient and could result in some annoying bugs or temporary inefficiency, there is no comparison to the costly mess that a ransomware attack can cause.

Create a Guest Network

Creating an isolated guest network for use by visitors or people with personal devices is a great way to keep any potentially harmful malware isolated. Similarly, avoid allowing employees or visitors access to any computer with administrative privileges to prevent ransomware attacks from being able to infiltrate your entire system by escalating privileges and overcoming security software. Though it may be convenient, having a publicly accessible Wi-Fi network opens the door to a variety of malware, snooping, and hacking risks, so at the very least it is wise to implement a password that can be given to in-person visitors or customers.

Strengthen Your Malware Protection

Even if your company computers came with a firewall installed, don’t assume that they are protected from ransomware attacks. A robust line of defense should include not only a firewall, but dedicated anti-malware and anti-ransomware software that can identify threats early on and prevent any intrusion, and it is just as crucial that you keep those programs updated so that hackers and hijackers can’t abuse weak spots in older software. Company email address should also be equipped with spam filters, as links and attachments in emails are one of the most common vectors for successful ransomware attempts.

Segment Network Access

Network segmentation, or the practice of breaking up your company’s computer network into smaller, isolated sub-networks, is a relatively obscure but incredibly useful tool for securing your sensitive data from prying eyes. One of the major perks of segmentation is that it buys time if any attacker successfully breaches a sub-network, allowing for fast and simple containment without the risk of your entire network being compromised.

Recovering from a ransomware attack, whether successful or unsuccessful, is significantly faster, cheaper, and less stressful when only a single workstation is breached, which makes network segmentation an especially attractive option for businesses with large amounts of sensitive data or companies particularly vulnerable to having customer data leaked.

Each passing year brings newer and more frequent ransomware attacks, many of which target small businesses with vulnerable networks or poor security. Without the right defenses in place, business owners are at the mercy of the attackers, and even when a ransom is paid, there is no telling how much sensitive data has been compromised. By adhering to the security practices outlined above, you can ensure that your small business is well-protected from ransomware and other forms of malware.