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In today’s technologically driven world, the threat of ransomware and other malware attacks is always present. With cyber attacks becoming more advanced and sophisticated, along with its increasing focus on targeting small-to-medium-sized businesses, it is crucial to utilize all tools and precautions to take on ransomware before it even begins. Ransomware prevention begins with a company’s most vulnerable point of entry: its employees.
From malicious links sent via email by hackers meant to look like an employee, to impersonations of federal agencies to play at people’s fears, entire organizations are becoming infected by having a single employee open one of these links or files. When this tactic is employed by hackers in a high volume of emails without a specific target in mind, it is known as phishing, whereas a spear phishing attack is when the hacker takes on a more targeted approach against specific organizations or employees.
No matter what method of phishing is used, email remains the most-common source of delivering ransomware, with 31 percent of infections coming from malicious links, and 28 percent originating from opening an email attachment. With attacks on businesses increasing by 3x in 2016, there is no reason to believe the trend will end anytime soon. After all, cybercrime is an incredibly lucrative industry, raking in an estimated $1 billion last year.
So what can be done to deter these attacks and all of the damaging effects that threaten small to medium sized businesses? As we mentioned before, it all starts with employees, and making sure they are properly trained and educated on how to spot potentially harmful emails. Even then, the need for a user to click a link or file for the infection to take hold is becoming obsolete, as these viruses are evolving to become “clickless” through remote execution exploits and Remote Desktop Protocol brute force attacks.
The need for well-informed and educated employees will always be needed when it comes to preventing ransomware, but they provide little defense in the event of an advanced attack. What was once a sufficient way to prevent malware, utilizing basic antivirus products is simply not enough anymore to keep up with polymorphic malware, or malware that constantly changes the way it looks to avoid detection.
In order to properly protect yourself and your organization against ransomware, a layered approach to security is necessary. We provide end user susceptibility testing and training for our customers by developing and layering our security solutions with a combination of firewalls and antivirus detection/removal softwares.
For our security solutions, Outsource Solutions Group is proud to be a preferred partner and reseller of WatchGuard’s Total Security Suite.
Featuring advanced security solutions such as WebBlocker, APT Blocker and Host Ransomware Prevention, WatchGuard’s Total Security Suite is the optimum layered security solution for businesses of all sizes to not only detect and remediate ransomware attacks, but to also prevent them as well.
Ransomware isn’t going anywhere, and attacks will only continue to evolve and become more sophisticated. Are you prepared?
Contact us today to make sure you’re protected.
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