Partner POV | How to Be Ransomware Ready

Article written by Christina Mascaro, Risk and Resiliency Advocate, Veritas. 

Imagine you are the CEO of TechCo, a company known for cutting-edge innovation and technological prowess. You've worked hard to establish yourself as a leader in the digital market. However, the tranquility within your company is about to be shattered.

On a sunny Monday morning, your employees arrive at the office ready to start another productive week. Little do they know, a cunning group of hackers targeted TechCo with a sophisticated malware attack. They placed the malware two months ago and let it sit dormant until the latest patch update. The update activated the malware — and it spread.

The day progresses like any other until employees notice pop-up messages on their screens. It's quickly evident that the network is compromised. The hackers have targeted your backup files. They've encrypted critical files, rendering them inaccessible. A chilling message demands millions of dollars to prevent them from releasing your data to the public.

You are a seasoned CEO and prepared for a ransomware attack. Your isolated, immutable backups are ready to go. But the problem isn't the ability to restore. The problem is that they got into your backups and stole information.

The hackers have hit a portion of your storage files. Your team springs into action, analyzing the extent of the attack and devising a plan to mitigate damage. They isolate the infected system to prevent further spread and initiate the incident response protocol. 

The clock is ticking. You decide to involve law enforcement to launch an investigation. Meanwhile, you restore your own files. Days turn into nights as your team works to recover and close vulnerabilities. Your operations have slowed dramatically, leading clients and partners to express concern. Luckily, the media isn't aware yet.

The good news is that the stolen files were encrypted. Your data is safe. Your company automatically encrypts all the data in storage, making it unusable to hackers.

Proactive Resilience and Cyber Preparedness Are Key 

Ransomware continues to pose a significant threat to organizations. Additionally, extortion is a growing threat. 

The steps below are key steps to becoming more proactive against ransomware.

Defend Yourself Against Ransomware: Ransomware often enters an organization and/or network through phishing emails, malicious downloads, or software vulnerabilities. Familiarizing yourself with different methods of infiltration and their potential impact is crucial for effective risk assessment.

Identify Your Vulnerabilities: Start with a comprehensive security audit to identify weaknesses in software, hardware, network configurations, and user practices. Assess elements including security protocols, patch management practices, access controls, and employee training programs.

Evaluate the Sensitivity of Data: Not all data has the same value. Conducting a thorough assessment to prioritize resources and establish appropriate security measures. Classify data based on its criticality, confidentiality, and integrity requirements. Creating tiers allows you to focus on protecting high-value assets and minimize potential losses.

Establish Backup and Recovery: A robust backup and recovery strategy is vital to mitigating ransomware risks. Regularly backing up critical data and storing it offline or in a secure off-site location helps ensure its availability in case of an attack. Establishing recovery protocols and with regular testing helps minimize downtime and data loss.

Implement Multi-layered Security: Effective malware defense requires a multi-layered approach. This includes deploying robust endpoint protection solutions, firewalls, intrusion-detection systems, and strong access controls. Implementing secure configurations, regularly updating software, and conducting vulnerability assessments are essential to reduce the attack surface and enhance security posture. 

Educate and Train Your Organization: Cybercriminals often exploit human error to gain unauthorized access to networks. Cybersecurity awareness and training programs are crucial to minimize risk. Educate employees about identifying phishing emails, practicing safe browsing habits, and following proper security protocols. Regular training sessions and simulations can significantly improve your security culture.

Develop an Incident Response Plan: Even with robust preventative measures, it is important to prepare for a potential incident. Develop a response plan so you can act quickly and effectively to mitigate the impact of an attack. Make sure your plan includes steps for isolating infected systems, communicating with stakeholders, engaging law enforcement, and restoring operations safely.