Without Data Backup, You’re at the Mercy of Malware

It’s no secret that a business relies on its data. Therefore, it only becomes more important that this data is protected, especially in light of the predictions that have been made for the rest of the year concerning ransomware. Read on for a closer examination of these predictions, and suggested actions that you can take to protect your business and its data.

What is Ransomware?
Ransomware is a particularly mean-spirited form of malware that infects a system and encrypts its files, leaving it inaccessible to its user, and then demands payment for the files to be decrypted. This variety of malware has been seen in increasing numbers, with the notorious Petya, WannaCry, and Cryptolocker all being classified as ransomwares.

More to Come
Unfortunately, every indication points to even more ransomware attacks coming throughout 2018 as well. It would seem that cybercriminals are focusing on efficiency, and directing their efforts toward initiatives that they are confident will work. In 2017, we saw the distribution of white labeled ransomware kits that allowed anyone to deploy ransomware without a lot of technical capability, as well as ransomware-for-hire services that would let belligerent users to direct ransomware upon whomever they want.

Furthermore, it can be anticipated that ransomware will leverage advanced technologies, like artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities, in order to be even more effective than it is now.

Ransomware Isn’t the Only Problem
Of course, there are other threats to data than ransomware attacks, many of which are office mainstays. Your data is always at risk of being damaged or deleted due to the most error-prone part of your infrastructure: the users. While most likely unintentionally, the reality is that your users could very easily do some serious damage to your business processes by simply deleting the wrong data.

In addition to this risk, there is always the chance that your hardware itself will encounter a problem and fail you, as well as various other circumstances that can jeopardize your data. This is especially true if your business is struck by a natural disaster that damages or destroys your on-site data storage solution.

Solving the Problem
One of the best ways that you can protect your data against these risk factors is by maintaining a backup solution. If managed properly, your backup will keep a copy of your business’ data and regularly update it with any changes that have been made since the last time it was updated--a process that can be completed as often as every 15 minutes.

As a result, you can go about your business knowing that you aren’t nearly as vulnerable to circumstances outside of your control. For assistance in implementing a backup, reach out to SCW at (509) 534-1530.