[x_section style=”margin: 0px -45px -25px -45px; padding: 45px 0px 0px 0px; “][x_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” bg_color=”” style=”margin: 0px auto 0px auto; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; “][x_column bg_color=”” type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; “][x_text]If 2017 proved anything it’s that cybersecurity is an ongoing concern and total prevention may be impossible, but being prepared can help ensure the consequences of an attack are limited. From the Equifax breach, to state-sponsored attacks by foreign adversaries, to Russian manipulation of social media during the election and beyond, to the WannaCry ransomware attacks, and to countless other phishing scams and system hacks, companies of all sizes were in the crosshairs of cybercriminals in 2017.
With breaches getting bigger, hackers getting smarter and the reality that almost no budget or team of IT professionals can guarantee you won’t be exposed to a threat, the time to focus on preparedness is now.
One of the biggest concerns facing businesses in 2018 will continue to be ransomware. The reality is that with more and more people working on-the-go, it is increasingly difficult to completely “lock down” any system or network from external threats, especially now that cybercriminals have figured out how to effectively distribute ransomware to mobile devices. Furthermore, the emergence of RaaS (Ransomware-as-a-Service) platforms means that the criminals no longer need to be tech-savvy themselves; instead, they can purchase the ability to leverage an attack to reap the monetary benefits without requiring any sophisticated technical skills.
But rather than worrying about the things you can’t control, here are a few things you can do.
- Remember that there is probably no way to completely protect yourself from ransomware if your business and/or your employees are online. Instead, focus on being able to quickly and seamlessly recover if you are attacked, without having to pay a ransom.
- Continually educate your employees on the best ways to avoid falling victim to cyber attacks. Your employees can be your weakest link or your first line of defense, depending on their training and understanding of security protocols. This includes understanding when to use email encryption, mandatory two-factor authentication, etc.
- Take a proactive stance when it comes to internet security. This means using licensed and up-to-date virus protection, spam filtering and website filters.
- Have a backup and recovery plan in place before you need one. This is probably the single most important key to successfully restoring business operations after a breach – especially if ransomware is involved.
This might sound like a lot (and it is), but the team of IT professionals at ATB is here to help keep your business secure in 2018 and beyond. Contact us today to schedule a complimentary consultation and learn more about our IT security services.[/x_text][x_prompt type=”left” title=”Call Us Today” message=”Give us a call: 314-878-4166″ button_text=”Contact Us Online” button_icon=”comment” circle=”false” href=”/contact/” href_title=”” target=””][/x_column][/x_row][/x_section]