Protect Yourself From Ransomware.

I wish I had a nickle for every time someone has asked, "You don't trust me?" after I've told them I've restricted their access to only what they need to do their job. Each time I've explained, "it's not about trusting you...". "It has more to do with risk assessment, and limiting any damage, should your account be compromised, Mr. 'Password123'."

When Malware enters your system, it executes with all the rights and permissions of the user currently logged in. If you have access to everything on your network, so does the Malware. This is a real problem when it comes to most viruses, but with Ransomware this can be absolutely devastating. We take all reports of malware very seriously, but some of the most crucial calls come from the Business owner or CEO themselves, as they typically have access to all critical data on the network.

As with any comprehensive security strategy, if you want to protect your Business from Malware, it's very important to have a multi-layered approach. A good Anti Ransomware approach would look something like this;

Layer 1. Always have a tested Offsite or Cloud Backup. Regardless of how strong the Ransomware's encryption is, an important first response to be able to restore your data from a good backup which was stored offline or in the cloud, separate from your infected systems. Our Managed Services Clients rely on dual redundant backup platforms, to ensure that we can recover their data after any disaster, such as a ransomware attack.

Layer 2. Restricted user access. If all of your users have wide open access to everything on your shared drive, and even worse they have local admin privileges on their desktop as well, your network is basically wide open to anything that can sneak in through email, fool a user and attack it. File Security and restricted rights on the network can save your network in the event of a ransomware attack, limiting access limits the damage and makes it much easier to rectify.

Layer 3. A Reliable, Tested and Monitored Antivirus Solution can prevent Malware from spreading too far and this makes cleaning up your systems much easier. All of our Managed Services Clients receive a license for Trend Micro AV for each of their machines, which we monitor from our offices, to ensure they are always up to date.

Security Layers for your Business should always be designed by a professional, as you may have different needs to provide a complete and proper defense. With appropriate security in place, your business will recover much faster and cheaper from any malware attack.

If you have concerns about your Security Layers, and how they may stand up to a Ransomware Attack, or if you have any questions regarding this Blog post... Please contact us for your Free Network Evaluation at helpdesk@bracer.ca or call our main line at 587-400-9573 and ask to book a free meeting with a Technician, to discuss your concerns.