Archives for October 2019

How to Fight Back Against a Ransomware Attack

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The number of organizations affected by ransomware has gone down by more than 40 percent in recent years. Good news, right? Not completely: the total amount demanded in ransomware attacks has gone up by nearly 90 percent. So while the total number of attacks has gone down, experts believe that hackers are growing more sophisticated, targeting higher-value systems such as cities and school districts. It’s no coincidence that these governmental organizations tend to be less prepared against a ransomware attack, either.

So what should your company do to prevent a ransomware attack – or at least mitigate the fallout? Forbes recently shared a few good tips.

Establish a Business Continuity Strategy

If your company’s data is securely backed up and you have a business continuity plan in place, you’re much less vulnerable to a ransomware attack. This may be the least expensive and most accessible option – and Vaultas can help you get started.

Strengthen Login Credentials

A recent study found that 80 percent of data breaches are at least partially caused by weak or stolen login credentials. Essentially, hackers are no longer hacking, but simply logging in using compromised credentials. Make sure all members of your organization are using secure logins, and establish multi-factor authentication.

Minimize Access Points

Hackers often get into a company’s network through shared accounts that are no longer in use. Be vigilant about the tools and accounts employees use, and close them down when they’re no longer operational. In addition, consider creating access zones, with specific users and multi-factor authentication.

Is your company protected against ransomware attacks, hacks or breaches? Are your data, applications and networks protected against disaster? If not, give Vaultas a call.

Vaultas is a premier provider of IT solutions, providing data storage and backup, disaster recovery and business continuity services, hosting, colocation, cloud storage and more. Our data centers are located in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Alexandria and St. Cloud, MN, and Milwaukee, WI. Contact us to get started.

How to Minimize the Impact of a Cybersecurity Breach

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It’s true that some businesses are more likely to be targeted by cyber criminals, based primarily on their industry. For example, hackers often go after health care or financial institutions, because they house sensitive and significant personal data. But businesses of all sizes and in all industries are susceptible to hacks, ransomware, and other attacks. This is why cybersecurity and disaster recovery need to be a top priority for all companies.

Today, we’re discussing a few important actions businesses can take to minimize the negative impact of a cybersecurity breach, as discussed by the Disaster Recovery Journal.

Keep Software Up to Date

It’s important to install software updates as soon as they become available. This is because updates usually include patches for security holes and vulnerabilities. Using outdated software leaves businesses open and exposed to breaches.

Encrypt Sensitive Data

Even if your company is breached, you can minimize the harm by keeping your most sensitive data – customer financial information, for example – protected. Use encryption for that vital data.

Back Up to Avoid Paying Ransom

It’s important to maintain a full backup of your IT environment. If you’re hit with ransomware, this will allow you to restore your network from the backup, and avoid paying a costly ransom. However, if backups are also infected by malware, this strategy won’t offer much help. That’s why it’s important to ensure that backups are also secure against hacks and breaches.

Filter Viruses at the Perimeter

The best way to minimize the impact of a cybersecurity breach is to prevent the breach from ever getting into your network. Use a perimeter anti-virus software that blocks viruses at the network edge.

Is your company protected against ransomware, hacks, or any other cybersecurity breach? Is your sensitive data protected against disaster? If not, give Vaultas a call.

Vaultas is a premier provider of IT solutions, providing data storage and backup, disaster recovery and business continuity services, hosting, colocation, cloud storage and more. Our data centers are located in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Alexandria and St. Cloud, MN, and Milwaukee, WI. Contact us to get started.