How to recover from a ransomware attack

What is ransomware?

Ransomware is a type of malware that prevents your organisation from accessing its files and systems until a fee is paid. It is one of the most common forms of malware and if you don’t have the right cybersecurity in place, you are an easy target.

Cyber attacks can be destructive, affecting your business’ functionality and customers’ personal data while leaving your technology in a vulnerable position. This blog will outline some of the key steps to building your systems back up after a cyber attack, ensuring they are stronger and safer for the future.

Cloudhouse’s top 3 tips

1. Build your systems back up to a strong, protected state.
Firstly, look at the applications your organisation is currently running on – they might be legacy applications (these are applications that were created more than a decade ago). Older systems are at higher risk of malware attacks as they have more entry points for cyber attackers, making them an obvious target. So, if you spot any of these, we advise updating them to newer, more efficient versions – versions that are more in line with the latest Windows software. This can even easily be accomplished using Alchemy.
Although change can be daunting, it is important to update your applications as they are vital to your running day-to-day operations. Newer systems ultimately have better security features and are more resistant to cyber-attacks.

2. Back up your files.
This is as simple as it sounds; ensure all of your files and important information are stored on multiple drives. This will reduce the risk of malware reaching all of your information in one hit.
Keeping your files on multiple drives means that you always have a backup and if your organisation was ever subject to a ransomware attack again, you wouldn’t lose everything. However, if it was, you would be able to clear the system it is breaching and still keep all of your files safe in another location.

3. Continuously monitor for gaps in your technology.
Flaws in your systems allow easy entry for malware and cyber attackers. By continually monitoring your technology you will be able to mitigate or cease any problems before they arise by fixing those gaps. This will not only allow you to understand what the issues were when the ransomware attack occurred but avoid it from happening again.

What next?

All organisations need excellent cybersecurity to avoid attacks and protect their business functionality, brand reputation and customers. Cloudhouse Guardian allows you to monitor all of your applications in one place, spotting problems before they can be exploited.

Send us a message today to find out how Guardian can help protect your business.