Table of Contents
Ransomware at Bay with an Effective Backup Strategy
Do you know how to keep Ransomware at bay with an effective backup strategy. Ninety percent of businesses now back up their data to help reduce risk. Backups alone, however, are insufficient because attackers are always improving their techniques. Consider the fact that 59 percent of businesses don’t regularly backup their crucial data, putting them at danger of suffering a serious data loss.
Even more troubling, according to research firm IDC, is the fact that ransomware organisations are now attacking data backups directly.
READ MORE: Which Security Key You Should Use With Google?
The chief technical evangelist at Druva, W. Curtis Preston, says there are both good and bad news stories about to keep Ransomware at bay with an effective backup strategy.
The good news, according to Preston, is that ransomware organisations are losing money as a result of people’s refusal to pay. “It’s awful news that hostile actors are now using ransomware 2.0.
Preston claimed that ransomware 1.0 was easy to use. Attackers demanded money while encrypting data, he claims. Companies only needed to have a backup and a disaster recovery plan. But many quickly realised how ineffective their DR was.
READ MORE: How Identity and Access Management is Transforming Security for Businesses
How Does Ransomware Work?
Ransomware attacks usually begin with a phishing email or a malicious link. Once the victim clicks on the link or opens the attachment, the ransomware is downloaded onto their computer. The ransomware then begins to encrypt the victim’s files, making them inaccessible.
Once the victim’s data is encrypted, the attacker demands a ransom payment in exchange for the decryption key. The ransom can be in the form of cryptocurrency or other types of untraceable payments, which makes it difficult for law enforcement agencies to track down the attacker.
Why is Ransomware so Difficult to Protect Against?
Ransomware is difficult to protect against for several reasons. Firstly, ransomware attacks are constantly evolving. Attackers are always coming up with new ways to evade detection and encryption techniques. This makes it difficult for antivirus software and other security solutions to keep up.
This makes it difficult for organizations to defend against ransomware attacks using traditional security solutions.
Finally, even if an organization has invested in security solutions to protect against ransomware attacks, it is still possible for an attack to be successful. All it takes is one employee to click on a malicious link or open a phishing email, and the entire organization can be compromised.
The Key Elements of an Effective Backup Strategy:
Regular Backups
Regular backups are essential for ensuring that an organization can recover from a ransomware attack. Backups should be taken at least once a day, and more frequently if possible. This ensures that if a ransomware attack does occur, the organization can quickly restore its data to a point before the attack occurred.
Backup Redundancy
Backup redundancy is important to ensure that backups are available in case of a failure or corruption. This means having multiple copies of backups in different locations. One copy should be stored on-site, while the other copy should be stored off-site or in the cloud.