PREVENT RANSOMWARE DAMAGE IN 2023
Ransomware remains the largest threat for organizations in 2023. It’s not a question if you get hit, but when. But even if cyber-criminals manage to find you, you can limit the damage significantly with the right security strategy. Throughout this blog we uncover how big the ransomware danger is. We also explain the importance of the right course of action.
While ransomware groups became more splintered in 2022, partly due to the war in Ukraine, the threat stays imminent. Cybersecurity group Cisco Talos writes in its yearly review that more than 20% of all cybersecurity incidents in 2022 originated from ransomware.
Talos writes that phishing is still one of the most important methods to start a ransomware attack. The culprit enters the network with the help from employees – who click a malicious link or open a dangerous file. This proves that a technical security solution, like a virus scanner or firewall, won’t always stop ransomware. A big part of the puzzle is employee awareness and security procedures within the organization.
Cyber criminals quickly adapt to thwart defense mechanisms, as we’ve seen with the Log4j exploitation. This vulnerability in VMWare (among other platforms) led to hacks of many IT systems worldwide. Log4j and ransomware quickly joined hands, with the exploitation being used by cyber criminals to launch ransomware attacks.
The agile approach of hackers means your organization need the same flexibility. It calls for a tailored security strategy, and expertise at the right moment.
First step: know the risks within your organization
A tailored security strategy, what does that mean? First, you want to create overview. You need to know what your IT landscape looks like and which weak parts need protection. When some parts of the environment are not on your radar, it means a cyber-criminal can roam free there.
To solve this challenge, request an assessment from a security specialist. Avit’s Cyber Resilience Assessment checks your IT environment and organization on 18 essential topics, such as data security, e-mail and browser protection and network monitoring.
As we mentioned before, the human factor may be more important than technical solutions. That’s why Avit assesses security related procedures as well, besides IT assets. Can you employees signal threats, and do they know how to respond when incidents occur? This is of huge importance in the battle against phishing, and the ransomware attacks that follow.
Based on the results of the assessments, priorities can be set. Which risks need to be mitigated immediately, and which issues aren’t that time-sensitive? This analysis results in a tailored strategy to create an effective roadmap.
Time is money: mitigate threats fast with 24/7 expert monitoring
The IT landscape is getting more complex, so the danger can come from anywhere. Chances are likely your organization doesn’t have the time and resources to do non-stop monitoring. Still, this is an essential step to be in front of ransomware attacks.
Solve this challenge by outsourcing monitoring to a Security Operations Centre (SOC). A team of specialists scans your IT environment 24/7, and mirrors activities to the most recent cyber threats.
SOC sends out an alert when incidents happen, along with actionable advice to quell the danger as quick as possible. The SOC makes it possible to act fast, and targeted. It allows you to isolate an infected system from the rest of you IT landscape. That way, you prevent ransomware to bring your complete organization to a standstill.
Interested to know if your security solution is up to par with current security risks? Please contact us for a Cyber Resilience Assessment.
