Ransomware Attacks from Remote Working
With the increase in remote working, there has also been a significant increase in successful ransomware attacks. The nature of remote working taking place from home increases the risk of a ransomware attack as security controls are not robust from employees’ homes. There are many ways that ransomware can be downloaded unknowingly by an employee while working from home.
The following are the most common ways that ransomware can be downloaded and activated.
- USB’s or laptops that are infected and then are connected onto the network can lead to the complete infection of the entire network
- A URL on a webpage which is compromised, is clicked on
- Clicking on an email that looks legitimate but is not
- Clicking on online ads that look legitimate but are actually gateways for downloading ransomware
Costs of a Data Breach
The costs of a data breach due to a ransomware attack are varied. They can significantly impact a small business in the short term and the long term. Your small business will have to resort to pen and paper as most if not all computers on the business network will be infected. This will affect the efficiency of the business and servicing customers will be much harder. The reputation of your small business will also suffer. Critical data such as usernames, passwords, names and credit card information will have been stolen. This will impact your business reputation and the trust that your customers will have in the business. It will also be highly costly to remedy the ransomware attack by hiring security expertise.
Prepare a Disaster Recovery Plan for All Case Scenarios
It is important that an audit is carried out of IT resources. This should also include resources used for remote working. Determine which data is critical and use a remote cloud based data storage solution. Specific IT roles should be established and specific responsibilities delegated. Recovery goals must be established in the event of a ransomware attack. This plan must be tested for all case scenarios. By following this steps you will be able to somewhat safeguard your small business and ensure that a data breach can be contained. However, continual updating and testing of your disaster recovery plan needs to take place as well as a continued investment in technology to ensure rapid recovery if your small business does experience a ransomware attack and data breach.
Train Employees who Work form Home
By training your employees who are working remotely from home, you might be able to minimise the opportunities that ransomware could be downloaded. This is an important investment and all employees should be trained to look out for these threats. Ensure that they have been given relevant examples and guidelines for what links and attachments that may contain ransomware look like and how to spot them.
Use Cloud Computing Services
There are many advantages to using cloud computing services especially if your small business does experience a ransomware attack. Cloud computing services allow your small business to access up-to-date backup of your data. In the case of a ransomware attack you will be able to access your data and instant recovery of your systems will be possible.
Find out more about our Cloud Computing Services
For more information and an obligation free discussion about how 4s Systems can help you implement and support your Cloud Computing needs please call us now on 0203 92 66 999 or click here