• Only 45% of organizations have an active contingency plan in the event of a ransomware attack. 

• President Biden has declared cyber attacks a threat to national security. 

• The Colonial Pipeline attack in May 2021 revealed how susceptible companies are to ransomware attacks.

With more businesses moving online, and teams working remotely, ransomware attacks have become commonplace among organizations. In January 2020, an eMarketer report estimated that nearly 45% of companies currently have countermeasures in place in the event of a cyberattack. After the Colonial Pipeline attack in May 2021, president Biden exclaimed that cyber attacks have become a threat to national security in the United States. 

Organizations, big or small are under threat from ransomware attacks. CEO of the Seattle-based verification startup, VeriClouds, Stan Bounev explained that they’re in the process of recovering more than 1 billion stolen credentials each month. Ransomware attacks have become a 21st-century threat to individuals’ personal information and company security. Although these attacks infiltrate the organization from inside and outside, there are ways you can protect yourself and your business. 

What are ransomware attacks?

A simple explanation states that a ransomware attack is an attack on an organization’s online systems and software to retrieve as much personal information about customers and personnel. Once personal data and information have been captured, attackers withhold the data until a ransom is paid by the person or organization. 

These attacks take weeks to plan and can happen within a matter of seconds. Attackers will normally leave a backdoor, having an easy way in and out of the organization’s online systems. Senior executives and cybersecurity companies have the slightest idea when these attacks may happen, or how they will take place, leaving them in a tough situation once the attackers have already infiltrated systems. 

What are the precautions for ransomware attacks? 

Businesses and organizations of any size are susceptible targets, with smaller businesses being affected the most after an attack has occurred. It might seem the easiest to pay the ransom and move on, but it’s not always a given that stolen information will and can be retrieved. 

Ensure you have a proactive cybersecurity system 

Small businesses tend to lack high-quality cybersecurity. Having an active, and trustworthy cybersecurity system in place can help prevent these attacks, and help monitor any incoming and outgoing online traffic. Even if you’re using a platform such as Wix website builder, be sure to have the necessary protection in place. 

Inform and educate personnel 

Organizations with multiple employees accessing online systems daily need to be properly informed and trained on how to spot any suspicious activity. These can include ensuring employee passwords are complex and regularly changed, monitoring any spam or suspicious information being retrieved by employees, running regular system updates, and having customary updates of employee and client information. 

Disconnect in the event of an attack

If a threat or attack has been detected, disconnect all machines and systems directly linked to where the attack is coming from. Some cybersecurity firms suggest even disconnecting wifi and Bluetooth services to help curb the spread of malware on online systems. 

Where do ransomware attacks come from? 

Ransomware attacks can come from any place, at any given time. Attackers will normally study the organizations, to understand how daily operations work, and when systems are most vulnerable. 

Links and emails 

The most common among all attacks come from foreign links and emails opened by staff and customers who are directly linked to the organization. 

Open-ended security systems 

In some instances, these attacks occur because security systems have not properly been installed, maintained, or updated. 

To finish

Have a response plan ready 

Having a response plan is key to help you overcome, and perhaps prevent these sorts of attacks from taking place within the organization. Think and elaborate on ways how your business will respond in the event of an attack, what are the steps you’ll be taking and how you can use PR to manage and restore faith and trust in your customers.