Ways to Protect Your Network from Ransomware

Ransomware attacks are happening more and more every day. To better protect your network, you need to take steps to secure your network.

Ransomware is on the rise and if you store a lot of your data on your servers and share it through your network, you need to find ways to protect yourself from an attack. If you fail to do so, you could have your files high jacked and be forced to pay a ransom in order to get them back. Use these tips to better protect your network from a ransomware attack.

Take the Time to Educate Employees

One of the best defenses against cyber attacks is knowing what to look for and how to avoid it. Take the time to educate all employees on what to look for and what to avoid. You need to tell them how to proceed with suspicious emails and how to identify them. You should also educate them on what they need to do if they think an attack has occurred. Of course, you do not want this to happen but they should be prepared with the knowledge of what to do in case it ever does.

Back Up Your Files

You want to be sure to have all of your files backed up in case you are the victim of an attack. This way, if you are the victim of a ransomware attack, you will have all of your files and will not have to pay a ransom to get them back. You want to be sure to complete a full backup on a regular basis. The frequency of your backups is completely up to you but the more often you do it, the more complete your files will be in case of an attack. You should try to set this up so the backup process is automatic at specific intervals so you do not have to remember to do it.

Consider Multiple Layers of Security

Knowing what to look for and how to avoid clicking links that have the possibility of leading to an attack is not enough to protect you. You also need to provide protection from the possibility of an attack even reaching you. To do this, you should consider multiple layers of protection on your network. When you are thinking of ways to protect your network, consider implementing all of them for a more complete kind of security. Some tools you should consider using include anti-spyware, anti-malware, anti-intrusion, and even anti-virus. When you have multiple layers of protection, you can ensure that you will still be protected even if one of them fails you.

Protect All Devices

Not only should you protect your network, but it is also important to protect all devices that have access to the network. Make sure you have anti-virus and other types of protection on each device. Make it a requirement to have the protection on every device. Some employees may be tempted to remove the software so their devices can run faster but it is not safe to remove the protection. The software must be updated on a regular basis so if it is removed or not updated on time, set up the devices to automatically lock. You can require your IT department to unlock them and ensure the protection is installed and up to date.

Apply Updates and Patches

Weaknesses in systems are some of the easiest targets for cyber attackers. You should be sure to always apply updates and patches for any of your systems as soon as they become available. Waiting to update these provide doors for attackers to come in and hack your system. You may even want to consider a solution that will automatically update and patch your systems for you so you do not miss any of them. This will ensure your systems do not show weakness to attackers so you can continue to focus on your business.

Remove Suspicious Files Immediately

If you do discover a potential attack, you should do everything you can to remove it and analyze it. You can find a software that sandbox the suspicious files. This technology will quarantine the file so you can analyze it before it even reaches your network. Even if the file is not malicious but there is a possibility, the technology will hold the file at a gateway so it can be examined. If it is found to be a file that is not dangerous, you can release it into the network. If it is a malicious file, you can remove it before it has the opportunity to do any damage because it never got the chance to enter the network.

Segment Your Network

Another great way to prevent the spread of ransomware, in case it does get into your network, is to segment it so that it cannot spread to the entire network. For the majority of attacks, they will try to enter the network through endpoints, or devices, and find their way to the server and your storage. If your network is segmented, the attackers will never be able to get to the server or your storage. You can isolate specific parts of your network as well as some of your important apps so they cannot ever be reached. This way, you can limit the spread and even stop it in its tracks before it causes you more problems or costs you more money.

Using these tips will help protect your network in a variety of ways. You should implement most, if not all, of these tactics for the best protection against cyber attackers. With the rise of ransomware attacks, an attack is not just a possibility if you do not take these preventative measures. It will happen eventually without the best kind of protection. For more information on how you are better protect your business and our network from a ransomware attack in {city}, be sure to contact {company} via {email} or {phone}.