Ransomware Protection Miami: Secure Your Business Now

Ransomware Protection Miami: Secure Your Business Now

Ransomware Protection Miami: Keeping your company’s IT systems secure is an ongoing battle. As technology evolves, so too do the skills and knowledge of hackers. Cybercrime has thus become one of the biggest threats to Miami businesses, and according to one study, a cyber attack occurs once every 39 seconds. 

While some attacks can be thwarted by antivirus software and firewalls, due to the advanced nature of malware such as ransomware, it only takes one weakness in your system before an attempted attack becomes a huge concern. For modern businesses in Miami, this means that antivirus software is simply inadequate to defend against all the threats that jeopardize your private data.

However, even though experts are warning that cybersecurity is an area that cannot be neglected by businesses, it is estimated that only 5% of companies have adequate security protection. Considering the value of private data that many businesses hold, and the risk implicit in the event of a data breach, there are some lasting effects that can be felt if you do not take the care to protect yourself from cybercrime, especially ransomware. 

Here’s what your Miami business should be doing to better understand and protect against the growing threat of ransomware:

What Is Ransomware?

One of the most prevalent and damaging forms of malware is ransomware. As the name implies, ransomware is a type of malware which will infect your system and allow hackers to hold your data hostage until you pay a specified ransom amount, usually in the form of cryptocurrency that cannot be traced. With valuable customer information at risk, as well as loss of business due to system downtime, many companies must fold to the hacker’s demands.

With many high profile businesses falling prey to such hacks, there is clearly strong motivation for cybercriminals to persist in this line of attack. A major data breach at Uber, for example, resulted in 57 million names, email addresses, and phone numbers being stolen. The company is reported to have paid the hackers $100,000 in ransom money. 

With no guarantees that your data will be returned or that it has not already been severely compromised, ransomware can be particularly risky, even if you do pay the ransom. In fact, the FBI’s advice is that if you are infected by ransomware, you should not pay the ransom for those reasons.

How Can You Protect Your Business From Ransomware?

Perhaps the best advice modern businesses can take is to adequately build their cybersecurity defenses so they can avoid these attacks altogether. You can protect your Miami business from these costly attacks by partnering with a Managed IT Services Provider who offers 24/7 system monitoring and support, risk assessments, advanced threat detection, and more.

Here are some of the other services Managed Service Providers offer and how they can help protect your business from ransomware attacks:

Proactive Monitoring and Maintenance

While your current IT personnel may be using a break/fix method to manage your IT, Managed Service Providers provide proactive monitoring and maintenance of your systems. A break/fix approach (waiting for an IT issue to arise before fixing it) is not an adequate solution to protect against ransomware. 

Rather, you need a team of IT professionals who monitor your systems 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for any new threats that may emerge. They are constantly looking for weaknesses they can patch immediately before hackers take advantage of them, which adds a significant layer of secure protection to your systems.

Implementation of Incident Report Procedures

Recording all incidents will ensure you are able to prevent future incidents and will allow you to improve flaws in procedures or systems that may have led to the the incident. 

By implementing report procedures, you can ensure the correct parties are notified immediately in the event of an incident. Incident reporting is key as it helps you respond to situations immediately and analyze where improvements can be made. 

Proxy Servers and Anonymizers

If you are handling customer details such as names, email addresses, login details, and financial data, it’s vital that you take precautions to protect this sensitive information with additional security layers. Using anonymizers and proxy servers can ensure you keep all relevant information private when accessed or transferred using an open-net connection.

In sum, by understanding the true risk of ransomware and teaming up with a Managed Service Provider like ARK Solvers to implement stronger cybersecurity, you can keep your business and client data safe. Cybersecurity is the most critical aspect of any business’s IT, so it’s imperative that you work to build strong defenses that are smarter than the hackers. 

To learn more about how you can get protection against ransomware from ARK Solvers, contact us today at (786) 507-8016.