ransomware attack

Is Your Organization Ready to Defend Against Ransomware Attacks?

Without question, cybercrime is escalating and ransomware attacks and threats abound. Learn how to defend against ransomware, how infection can occur and how you can fight back.

Cybercrime is reaching unprecedented heights. And with the recent “WannaCry” ransomware attack, cyberthreats are back at the top of every IT department’s list of priorities and concerns. Unfortunately, it’s a trend that is unlikely to be curbed anytime soon. Cybersecurity communities have estimated that the total cost of cybercrime damage worldwide is estimated at $6 Trillion annually by the end of 2021, forcing more and more businesses to invest in cybersecurity spending on products and services to protect their business critical data from potential ransomware attacks.

Here I’ll talk more about what ransomware is, how infections can occur and how your business can be more prepared to defend against potential attacks.

What is ransomware?

Ransomware is typically defined as a subset of malware where the data on a victim’s computer becomes inaccessible and payment is demanded (usually in the form of bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies), before the data is decrypted and the victim can re-access their files.

Ransomware attacks can present themselves in a variety of forms but Microsoft Malware Protection Center explains that the two most widespread ransomware families to be reported in 2016/17 were:

  • Lock-screen ransomware
  • Encryption ransomware

Typically, lock-screen ransomware will present victims with a full-screen message which then prohibits the user from accessing their PC or files, until a payment is made. Whereas encryption ransomware will modify the data files via encryption methods so that the victim cannot open them again. In both cases, the attackers are in total control and demand large sums of money to access or unlock the files.

How does a ransomware infection occur?

On average, most ransomware infections occur through email messages carrying Trojans that attempt to install ransomware when opened by victims, or alternatively, websites that attempt to exploit vulnerabilities in the victim’s browser before infecting the system with ransomware.

Multiple high-profile incidents in 2016/17 alone, have demonstrated the destruction ransomware attacks can have on enterprise networks just as easily as on individual PCs.  For example, EternalBlue (a Windows exploit) released by the mysterious hacking group Shadow Brokers in April 2017 breached spy tools at the National Security Agency (NSA) and offered stolen data for auction, and the WannaCry strain targeted thousands of targets including the National Health Service in the UK (in total netting ~52 bitcoins or around $130,000 worth of ransom).

Not to mention many other widespread strains of ransomware including Petya, Nyetya, Goldeneye, Vault 7, Macron which have had devastating effects on countries, enterprises, election debates and individuals around the world. Attacking enterprise networks in this manner, is even becoming even more attractive because of the value of the files and data that large enterprises own means attackers can demand higher monetary values for ransom.

How to fight back

The increasing threats of ransomware attack should come as no surprise, because in reality organizations have always been under threat from malicious cyberattacks, viruses and ransomware, just more so now than ever before, and IT managers should continually be looking for ways to better protect their valuable data. Therefore, it is essential that your organization has a plan in place to defend against such attacks, minimize financial impact, reduce IT impact and maintain brand reputation.

The industry recognized recommendations suggest organizations follow the simple 3-2-1 rule and the implementation of a strong security plan. The goal of the 3-2-1 rule is to provide customers with a data protection solution that maximizes application uptime, and data availability in the event of a disaster striking.

With the proper execution of the 3-2-1 backup principles, IT managers can protect their data by:

  • Maintaining 3 copies of data (primary data and two copies)
  • Store backup copies on 2 different media types (such as tape, disk, secondary storage or cloud)
  • Keep 1 copy off-site (either on tape or in the cloud, since disasters can strike without notice, if all other forms of protection fail, you still have access to offline data!)