Tag: ransomware

The Rise of Ransomware: Why Every Business Needs a Cybersecurity Plan

man holding his head, with a computer with a ransomware alert on the screen behind him

Imagine waking up to the chilling message: “Your files are encrypted. Pay now or lose them forever.” This isn’t a dystopian movie plot; it’s the harsh reality of ransomware, a cyberattack that’s rapidly becoming a top threat for businesses of all sizes.

The Stats Paint a Grim Picture

In 2023, ransomware payments reached an all-time high of over $1 billion, according to Chainalysis. This exponential growth shows no signs of slowing down.  By 2031, experts project businesses will experience a ransomware attack every two seconds. The data is clear: no industry is safe, with attacks targeting hospitals, government agencies, and even small businesses.

Why Should You Be Worried?

Even if your business doesn’t handle sensitive data, the consequences of a ransomware attack can be devastating. Consider these statistics from the SOPHOS State of Ransomware 2023 report.

  • The average ransom payment in 2023 was $260,000. That’s a hefty sum for any business, especially small and medium-sized organizations.
  • Beyond the ransom, businesses incur additional costs for downtime, data recovery, and reputational damage. For instance, healthcare organizations collectively have experienced a loss of $77.5 billion since 2016 in downtime costs alone.
  • A single attack can cripple operations for days or even weeks, leading to lost revenue and productivity.

Don’t Be a Victim: Build a Cybersecurity Fortress

The good news is, you don’t have to be a sitting duck. By implementing a robust cybersecurity plan, you can significantly reduce your risk of falling prey to ransomware:

  • Educate your employees: Phishing emails are a common entry point for ransomware. Regular training empowers employees to identify and avoid suspicious emails.
  • Patch your systems regularly: Unpatched software vulnerabilities are often exploited by attackers. Make timely updates a priority.
  • Backup your data regularly: Having a reliable backup system allows you to restore your data in case of an attack, minimizing downtime and data loss.
  • Invest in security solutions: Antivirus software, firewalls, and endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools can help detect and prevent ransomware attacks.
  • Develop an incident response plan: Knowing what to do in case of an attack can minimize damage and expedite recovery.

Staying Ahead of the Curve

The FBI offers valuable insights into emerging ransomware threats and mitigation strategies. Additionally, CISA’s proactive approach like “pre-ransomware notifications” helps organizations identify and stop attacks before they happen.

Remember, cybersecurity is an ongoing process, not a one-time fix. By staying informed, taking proactive measures, and implementing a comprehensive plan, you can significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to ransomware and safeguard the continued success of your business.

Don’t become another ransomware statistic! Schedule a FREE cybersecurity consultation with Back To Business I.T. today to assess your vulnerabilities and build a customized plan to shield your business. Let our experts help you sleep soundly knowing your data and operations are safer.

Ransomware 3.0 | Cyber Risks in IoT Devices

news from microsoft

Ransomware 3.0

Ransomware attacks continue to get worse. They have now expanded to extort not just the companies, but also contractors and customers, in a “Triple Threat”. In addition to encrypting a victim company’s data, they will also exfiltrate, or download, copies of company data and emails. They will ask for one ransom to decrypt the computers, a second ransom to not make the stolen data public, and then the newest ransom attack. They reach out and present the data to customers, contractors, and business partners and demand a ransom from them in order to not have the data published. With phishing emails still being the number one attack vector for ransomware, be sure you have sufficient protection for your company. A combination of quality user education, phishing exercises and awareness campaigns, and system endpoint protections provides an in depth defense to this constantly evolving threat.

What does this mean for your business?

Back To Business I.T. has you covered. Our cybersecurity training programs are customized to meet the needs of your workforce and are designed to create a “human firewall” inside of your business. Building upon that, we offer state-of-the-art intrusion detection systems to stay one step ahead of cybercriminals. Don’t become a cyber statistic. Contact our team today and get Back To Business.

LinkedIn breach could mean your information was exposed

Just when you thought you had seen it all, think again! LinkedIn is the latest victim of phishing attacks. According to USA Today, firms are stating that cyber attackers are now posing as “boring, authentic, cubicle-office dwellers.” On top of these reported phishing attempts, CyberNews reports that the cyber attackers have also scraped data from 500 million LinkedIn accounts. The information leaked includes LinkedIn IDs, full names, email addresses, phone numbers, and various other sensitive information. Due to the leak of information, customers may be susceptible to increased email and text spamming or phishing.

What does this mean for your business?

Tighten up your security measures, and encourage your employees to do the same. Be conscious of strangers requesting to follow your LinkedIn profile. Consider changing your password periodically. Enable two-factor authentication for your account if possible. This additional layer of security serves as another barrier between your information and bad actors on the internet.

Manufacturing systems and IoT devices present high risk

IOT and other embedded manufacturing systems can present a high risk to your data and operations if not properly secured. Basic security steps can greatly improve your overall risk posture. From doorbells and cameras to CNCs and additive manufacturing systems, there are simple steps you can take to reduce the risk and exposure of the business side of your operations.

What does this mean for your business?

Your network is unique, and your security measures should be too. Your manufacturing systems and devices should be protected using industry best practices. Preventative steps such as changing default passwords, keeping your systems properly patched, and separating crucial systems from the rest of your network can make the difference between a few minutes of down time, and your entire operations coming to a halt. Our team is experienced in manufacturing environments, and passionate about our clients’ security. Contact us today to learn what we can do for your operations.

Microsoft announces 24 new issues posing cybersecurity threats

Microsoft announced the discovery of 24 issues in a wide range of IoT and OT devices. These issues allow malicious individuals to execute code on or crash your devices. This affects a wide range if industrial, medical, and enterprise devices. It is vital to your security to have an active inventory of the assets on your network, monitor them for vulnerabilities, and patch them regularly.

What does this mean for your business?

Our team of experts stands ready to help your organization take care of risks inside your network that you might not know are there. Cyberattacks are at an all-time high…and getting worse every day. We are here to help!

Cybersecurity risks continue to evolve, and so do our tools to fight them. We are passionate about protecting small businesses, and stay up to date on technology and cybersecurity best practices. Contact us today and let us show you how our cybersecurity services can help your business stay safe in an uncertain world.

Call us at 937-490-5600 or Contact Us to learn more or get started.

Common Sense and Cybersecurity

Common sense and cybersecurity

Earlier this month, Colonial Pipeline’s operations came to a halt after a ransomware attack orchestrated by DarkSide, an Eastern European cybercriminal organization. It took several days after the May 7 attack for the company to begin restarting parts of their systems as well as the mainlines. The effects were widespread and felt by most of us – gas prices at the pump fluctuated almost immediately.

As a society, we are becoming increasingly desensitized to news like this. Cyberattacks happen so often, it seems, that it’s hardly news. So why is it that so many businesses still don’t take cybersecurity seriously? There’s a shroud of mystery surrounding cyber – the media portrays hackers as hooded criminals lurking in a dark room. And while cybercrime methods change constantly, there are measures companies and individuals can take to protect their data. Those steps aren’t mysterious; they’re not hidden. Maybe they’re so simple – so rooted in common sense – that it’s easy to overlook them, and dismiss their importance.

 “The problem with common sense is that it is not so common.”

Maybe it’s easy to dismiss simple ways to implement cybersecurity because “well, everyone knows to do that.” The truth is maybe not everyone knows. Maybe “common sense” isn’t as common as we would like to think. For example – do you lock your doors when you’re not home? Chances are you do. It’s one of the most basic things to prevent entry and protect what’s inside. One of the easiest ways to protect your business data is to password protect your computer systems. This most rudimentary of security measures, which costs nothing to implement is still not being used by many businesses.

Along the lines of common sense, let’s revisit the events following the Colonial breach. Gas prices increased, media coverage heightened awareness of a potential (temporary) shortage. Some people took to the pumps to fill up before it got worse. Others took more drastic measures, filling up plastic bags with gasoline. Common sense would tell (most of) us it’s a bad idea to fill a plastic bag with gasoline, but the truth is not everyone has the same thought process and the same information. So much so that the US Consumer Product Safety Commission announced on social media that it was, in fact, a bad idea to fill plastic bags with gasoline.

This is an extreme case, most of us probably understand why it’s not a good idea to fill a bag with gasoline. But many businesses are doing the cybersecurity-equivalent of this, likely without realizing it. For example, if your company has data on computers that aren’t password-protected, or even protected by passwords such as “password1234” – that’s a potentially disastrous situation.

Cybersecurity: Start with common sense

Cybersecurity for your business doesn’t have to be complicated, unattainable, and cost-prohibitive. It would be irresponsible for us to reduce cybersecurity to just password-protecting your computers – but the truth is that you can start with simple steps like that. The password illustration is easy to understand but is by no means the gold standard as far as security measures go. Using common sense – perhaps the best of the senses – can help jumpstart your cyber approach. Your business technology is unique; your cybersecurity strategy should be unique, too. We can start where you are – whether that is as simple as password-protecting your systems or as complicated as monitoring network traffic for anomalies. Every business that uses technology in some way is vulnerable to cyberattacks, from pipelines to pop-up boutiques. Don’t wait until something disruptive brings your operations to a halt. Let’s start today.

Contact our team to talk about cybersecurity solutions for your business, from the tried-and-true to the cutting edge.

Cloudy with a Chance of Data Loss

cloud backup

What would happen if your company lost all of its email data? If you’ve yet to implement a backup solution for your Microsoft 365 data, you could be faced with that question if a cyber-incident occurs.

Over a million businesses use Microsoft 365 – chances are, you do too! By far the most popular productivity suite, this Microsoft product includes apps such as Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and others, depending on your configuration. But did you know that Microsoft is not responsible for backing up the data on in your Microsoft 365 suite?

Why Microsoft 365 Customers Need a Backup Solution

Many business owners using Microsoft 365 believe that their data is totally secure. The reality, however, is a different story. Although Microsoft offers many benefits in productivity, efficiency, and collaboration with Microsoft 365, the company doesn’t provide users with a comprehensive backup system for their underlying data.

Mechanical malfunctions and physical damage, hacking and theft, user error, and power outages all put user data at risk in the cloud. Protecting data has never been more important – hackers are now attacking computers and networks at a rate of one attack every 39 seconds. While companies do their best to prepare for these problems, no plan is foolproof, and stories of data loss are far from rare, with the average data breach costing small businesses $149,000. Furthermore, 60% of small businesses close their doors within 6 months of a data breach.

Cloud Backup Saves Data, Time, and Money

The fact is that having only one copy of important data is asking for trouble, whether it’s stored in the cloud or elsewhere. If your data isn’t backed up, you could be facing not only a loss of productivity as you scramble to rebuild, but also a loss in revenue and reputation.

Microsoft 365 is an excellent service that gives you access to your data from virtually any place at any time — and across many devices. As a software-as-a-service (SaaS) built on the industry-leading Azure public cloud, Microsoft 365 offers users high reliability, geographic redundancy, and secure connectivity.

This should not, however, be confused with a comprehensive data protection solution. Microsoft does not back up Microsoft 365 user data, so it recommends that customers use third-party solutions. Furthermore, Microsoft doesn’t protect data from common issues like file corruption or everyday human error. Nor does it offer a way to easily revert to older versions if something goes wrong beyond their normal data retention policy.

Back To Business I.T. can help you evaluate your options in addressing these shortcomings and specifically discuss how implementing a backup solution can be cost-effective and seamless and offer peace of mind.

Our Cloud Backup Service Is Easy to Use, and Recovery Is Fast

Not all backups are created equal, however. When looking into a solution that can protect your data stored in the cloud, there are a few fundamental questions you should be asking your vendor:

  • What data is actually being backed up?
  • How is the backup data being stored and protected?
  • How often is data backed up, and for how long?
  • How easy is the data restoration process?

Our Cloud Backup Service is a flexible, agile, and reliable solution that offers comprehensive data protection across the full Microsoft 365 tenant, unlimited storage and retention of user data, and a hassle-free setup and run experience. Better yet, data-recovery means you can have peace of mind that your company can be up and running with minimum downtime.

There are several things to consider when selecting a cloud backup solution – and our team of experts can help with that! Our team can customize an approach that works for the company data that should be protected as well as other business and budgetary needs.

Contact our team today to learn about our Cloud Backup solution for your Microsoft 365 data!

Create a Disaster Recovery Plan to Protect Your Data

disaster recovery plan

Your company’s most precious business resource is its data. What is your game plan for protecting it?

Data loss cripples businesses – studies show that over 50% of businesses hit by cyber-crime close their doors within 6 months. What measures are you taking while cyber-criminals step up their game? If your game plan doesn’t include backups, you’re effectively planning to lose when (not if) a cybersecurity breach occurs. Don’t like losing? Let’s go over some game plan essentials to get that win.

Consider the elements

Even with strict information controls and excellent maintenance of technology, avoiding data loss incidents is all but impossible. You can account for what you can control – and that’s about it. Aside from the usual suspects – ransomware, human error, and technology failure – there are other forces that could destroy your business if you don’t have proper backups. Don’t let other variables, such as natural disasters, structural fires, and theft, derail your business success. Create a Disaster Recovery Plan to use as your playbook for succeeding in less-than-ideal conditions, and position yourself to recover that data quickly.

A strong lineup

Not all backups are the same. Businesses have different needs and budgets and every backup strategy needs to consider both. Think of this as your line up. How long can your business afford to be “down” in the event of a disaster? What players need to stay in as long as possible? What data is affordable to lose? Priority should be given to the data essential to carry out your essential business functions. In the event of a breach, recovering that data quickly could spare you big losses.

Use a long term strategy

A winning game plan takes you all the way, right? Backups protect your data by ensuring you have a ‘copy’ of everything you need in case of compromise. How long should you keep those copies? The compliance and regulatory requirements for your industry should guide how long you keep data backups. A good long-term strategy accounts for not just unexpected events, but also compliance requirements to ensure your data is there whenever you need it.

Plan for the wildcard

People are a constant variable in the biggest upsets. In times of emotional distress, employees often make poor decisions. Almost 75% of departing employees admit to taking company data in some form. 70% of intellectual property theft occurs within 90 days of an employee’s resignation. Worse yet, even more malicious activity can occur and hostile actors inside the workplace, unfortunately, purposefully delete data. Plan for the wildcards by having timely backups and enjoying peace of mind knowing you can get back to normal after a compromise.

The competitive advantage

If a disaster were to hit your area, how quickly would your business recover? How quickly would your competitors recover? Implementing a disaster recovery plan through effective backups ensures quick restoration and minimizes down time. Make backups your competitive advantage by ensuring you can get back on your feet faster and more effectively than your competitors.

A strong game plan accounts for all known and unexpected factors. It includes an aggressive offense for the things we can predict, and a solid defense for the sudden and unexpected. Plan for the win – backup your data and get back to business.

Want to secure a win for your business?

Our team will work with you to create a custom disaster recovery plan that fits your business needs, the data you need to protect, and your budget. Contact us today!

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