Top Ways You Can Protect Your Business against Ransomware

Top Ways You Can Protect Your Business against Ransomware

Anas Bouargane 27/07/2020 6
Top Ways You Can Protect Your Business against Ransomware

Security is the key factor for every business. Every day, the software and other professional tools are in danger of being hacked, stolen, or locked.

One of the most dangerous and critical forms of a hacking attack is the so-called ransomware. It is a type of malware designed to steal identity and data.

Ransomware is even more hazardous and sophisticated, as it involves locking down the data. The victim of this kind of crime is simply unable to log in to their accounts, such as email or other tools necessary for work.

Ransomware is becoming more and more common in the world of business, and the hacking methods are getting more malicious and complicated. Is it possible to protect your business then?

Below you’ll find four top ways of doing that.

1. Get Reliable Software

Some companies try to save up a little on choosing less efficient and secure software. The truth is that IT tools and programs that provide full security and make work easier are costly, especially in their ‘business versions’ (which allow them to work on many devices at once).

However, saving up on these aspects is pointless, as reliable software is a base of a company’s security. Try to invest in it and simply be sure to have top-quality protection against ransomware. For example, to choose some reliable business phone systems, click here.

If you’re not interested in finding the software yourself, you might want to use some external IT services, available, for example, on this page.

2. Educate Your Employees

Of course, sometimes even the most cautious person becomes a victim of hacking. However, as they say - better safe than sorry!

As a company manager, you should invest in online security education and inform your team on that matter. It’s a good idea to organize various workshops and lectures conducted by IT specialists.

Try to remind your employees to stay cautious and reasonable - they shouldn’t use any external WiFi networks, visit unknown sites, or open suspicious emails. It is also advisable to change all the passwords every month or two.

You can find some additional measures, for example, on this website.

3. Use a VPN

Using public WiFi networks is risky since there is a chance of getting hacked. Sometimes hackers use these networks to break into email accounts or computers.

To prevent such a situation, you don’t need to ban your team from using their professional computer in public. What you can do is provide your workers with a VPN.

To get more information about how VPN works, read this article.

4. Make Backup Copies

You might become a victim of ransomware despite taking all the protective measures. If this happens, you may lose access to all the important documents and data stored on your computer.

That is why it’s essential to make some backup copies of the most vital document in advance. You can store them online (for example, on Google Drive), or copy the files onto a pen drive/hard drive. To read more about how to make backup copies, click here.

5. Don’t Open Suspicious Emails

Email attachments are thought to be the number one danger since they carry the risk of ransomware. That’s why you and your employees should only open the emails from reliable sources and senders.

If you have any doubts about the reliability of the sender, simply mark the email as spam. It’s still better to miss some important information (which can always be re-sent!) than to become a victim of ransomware. Remember that it’s not only your personal responsibility but also a professional one.

6. Use Business Equipment Only for Work

Another important issue and a risk factor are using your business equipment for personal use: games, online shopping, watching movies, etc. The more pages you visit, the bigger the risk of ransomware is.

Try to limit using your business computer and phone only to dealing with professional matters. At the same time, don’t connect your personal laptop to the company’s WiFi. Try to keep it separated.

Conclusion

Methods of hacking and the tools used for stealing data and identity are various, and they are changing at a fast pace. Sometimes it’s impossible to predict an attack and protect an employee or a company from it.

However, if you remember to take some basic measures on a daily basis, it is possible to stay relatively safe online and minimize the risk of ransomware. Just try to choose reliable equipment, visit only trusted pages, and don’t open suspicious links or emails. Try to avoid public WiFi connections if possible and use your business computer only for business matters.

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  • Paul Klein

    I avoid public wifi even if it's paid. I only use my business computer at work with a VPN and anti-virus software.

  • Daniel Cleave

    Stay safe and don't open suspicious emails

  • Michael Newey

    Back up data, even if your computer isn't hacked. It will eventually slowdown and won't work anymore. Better safe than sorry.

  • Tom Harvie

    Great tips

  • Marc Lonsdale

    Thanks for the help

  • Anthony Baze

    Thanks

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Anas Bouargane

Business Expert

Anas is the founder of CEF Académie, a platform that provides guidance and support for those willing to study in France. He previously interned at Unissey. Anas holds a bachelor degree in economics, finance and management from the University of Toulon.

   
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