Cornerstone Business Solutions managing director Chris Petty explains how your business could be held to ransom…
We’re under attack – and it could cost us big time if we don’t ensure we’ve got the right defences in place.
Cyber-attack is increasing like never before and it’s all a result of a virus more commonly known as ransomware.
Ransomware stops you from using your PC. As the name suggests, it holds your PC or files for “ransom”.
2016 has been the year ransomware held the UK, the rest of Europe and the US hostage.
With the FBI estimating that losses to be incurred in 2016 will top $1 billion, how can you be sure you’re ready to face the ransomware threat?
Once your files are encrypted, there are only two choices: restore from backup or pay-up – with no guarantee of getting any data back. The obvious preventions are the norm: antivirus, anti-malware, security access rights, patch management and daily backups
You need a back-up that’s disconnected from the network, otherwise the virus can get to your back-ups too.
The best option is offsite back-up – but that can be costly for large amounts of data, so use USB devices or tapes.
Even if you do have a back-up routine, you need to regularly check that you can do a restore and that you are backing up the correct data.
It’s natural to think it won’t happen to us, but crossing our fingers and hoping for the best could mean failing to taking action was the most expensive thing you never did.
Prevention is the best form of protection.
If you’d like any guidance or would like Cornerstone to check your data security levels please contact us for a chat on 0845 2232400.
Chris Petty
Managing director
Cornerstone Business Solutions
http://teesbusiness.co.uk/2016/12/14/are-you-using-protection/