Ransomware attacks are some of the most dangerous and destructive attacks that any business without effective ransomware attack prevention in place might encounter.

As these threats continue to become more prevalent, it is essential that businesses plan their ransomware attack protection in addition to any other network security they already have in place.

The seven steps briefly outlined below follow the protocol that cyber defense companies use to protect against ransomware attacks and other serious cyber threats.

1. Maintain Thorough Data Backups - Complete backups of data, applications, and all other network data and settings that are stored offsite and offline are the single most important ransomware attack protection tools for reinstating a company’s network after an attack.
2. Develop Security Policies and Plans - IT teams must have a plan in place on how to react to cyber threats and the company must have policies in place that serve to reduce exposure for effective ransomware attack prevention.
3. Manage Port Settings - Ransomware frequently takes advantage of certain open network ports. Cyber defense companies recommend doing a review of all network ports to analyze their use and closing down unused ones to reduce the number of entry points for this software to enter.
4. Create Secure Networks - Network security is as much about up-to-date hardware and securely planned digital network architecture as it is about having secure applications and safety protocols implemented.
5. Update Regularly - Software and application updates should be done as soon as they are available to reduce the chance that any discovered vulnerabilities will be exploited. Installing updates promptly also adds the benefits of additional security features that software companies may have newly built into their products to make them safer.
6. Add An IDS - While certain techniques prevent ransomware from entering a network, an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) as part of ransomware attack protection will actively look for threats that may have made it past security features and alert to their presence. This is done by monitoring traffic logs and network signatures, looking for suspicious network behavior that could mean some kind of breach of the network.
7. Provide Employee Training - Given that most ransomware and other malicious files find their way onto networks in suspicious emails and by clicking on insecure websites, employee training on how to recognize these things is essential.

Protecting a business network involves many different processes, including ransomware attack prevention that stops or tracks these malicious files or provides reliable ways to restore a network when necessary.

Businesses utilizing IT should work with qualified cyber defense companies to protect their data, their personnel and customers, and their ability to remain in business, even in this day of heightened cyber threats.