Page 92 - Cyber Warnings

Employee education is the first line of defense against ransomware.

Backup

Online criminals are smart, and many employees lack the technical proficiency to understand
the scope of security risks posed by phishing emails and other sources of vulnerability.

Education is essential, but it's best to assume that a ransomware attack will be successful at
some point, and prepare accordingly.

Ransomware attacks only work because the attacker can use the threat of permanent data loss.
Comprehensive, up-to-date, offsite backups remove the risk of data loss.

With a decent backup in place, recovering from ransomware attacks can be as simple as wiping
the affected systems and restoring data from the backup.

There will almost certainly be some downtime, but it's better than paying the ransom.

Without comprehensive backups, a company may have no other choice than to pay the attacker.

Ransomware attacks are a frightening prospect for any company, but it's not difficult to mitigate
the risk of data loss. A catastrophe that puts your company at grave risk or a minor
inconvenience? Preparation can make all the difference.

About the Author
Justin Blanchard has been responsible for leading initiatives that increase brand visibility, sales
growth and B2B community engagement.
He has been at the core of developing systems, tools and processes that specifically align with
Server Mania’s client’s needs.

92 Cyber Warnings E-Magazine – August 2016 Edition
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