You never know when you will be hit with a Ransomware attack. It can happen at any time, and it might take days or even weeks for you to get back up. This is why you should have system backups in place and managed by an expert like CST. When this national 100+ user manufacturing company was compromised recently, they were able to get back up and running completely in a matter of hours due to their system backups from CST.
The backups of their systems let them avoid having to pay a six-figure ransom. They would have lost the money if they didn’t have backup solutions.
What is ransomware and how does it work?
Ransomware is a type of malware that, once installed on the victim’s computer, locks access to using their files or programs. Sometimes attackers demand ransom in exchange for providing instructions to unlock the device or files. It can do this by encrypting, locking, or deleting the data in your computer system. There are many different types of ransomware, some examples include: Cryptolocker, CTB-Locker, Locky and TorrentLocker.
There are three ways ransomware can enter your computer. They might come through an email attachment or a download from the internet that has been infected with Trojan’s or worms. The ransomware might also get in through a security vulnerability in your system, such as Adobe’s Flash Player update. Finally, they might get into your computer by visiting a malicious website like one containing phishing content.
The impact of ransomware on a business
The impact of ransomware on businesses can be significant. If you are concerned about your business, it is important to take steps to protect yourself from this type of threat. This includes taking preventative measures and regularly backing up data. System security is a vital concern for all businesses on Long Island.
Regardless of the size of a company or industry sector, businesses can be severely impaired by an attack that results in data theft and service downtime. The impact often includes lost revenue related to system use while offline; loss of customer information like credit card numbers and personal contact details; fines for violating compliance standards imposed on financial institutions; and potential civil litigation from customers with damaged databases demanding restitution.
This type of event carries other significant costs as well: commissions paid out to partners who handle systems integration services, consulting fees spent handling regulatory requirements , system repairs, and system replacements.
How CST can help
The best disasters are the ones that never happen. That’s why you should always have a backup plan for your data and systems. At CST, we’ll work with you to assess your business-critical data, create policies to protect it when disaster strikes, and then put those policies into a coordinated action plan.
To avoid the many significant costs of a system outage or data theft, it is important that companies routinely back up their systems to an offsite location. They can securely store all the documents in case something happens with either one.
A recent example of this is when CST helped restore services for a national 100+ user manufacturing company that had been compromised by ransomware. Due to having backed-up servers at CST’s Data Center on Long Island, there was no need to pay any ransom money. CST was able to get them fully operational within hours.
Conclusion
With the rise in malware attacks, you never know when your computer will be infected with Ransomware. And if it happens to you, there’s no telling how long it might take for your IT team to get back up and running. That’s why having backups in place is so important—and not just from external sources like Google Drive or Dropbox either. You need an expert on standby who can restore all of your systems quickly once disaster strikes.
If you want to be prepared for a disaster, then work with the experts at CST Technology Solutions. They will help you identify what data is important or what systems need backups and set up a successful backup solution for them.
To learn more about our backup and disaster recovery services, contact us today!