Ransomware attacks have become increasingly common in recent years. As a business owner or IT professional, it is critical to understand how to handle and recover from such an attack. This article provides best practices and actionable steps you can take both before and after a ransomware attack.
Table of Contents
Preventing Ransomware Attacks
The best defense against ransomware is to prevent the attack from happening in the first place. Here are some key prevention tips:
Keep Software Updated
Regularly update operating systems, software, and firmware on all devices. Software updates often contain security patches that close vulnerabilities ransomware exploits. Enable automatic updates where possible.[1]
Use Antivirus and Anti-Malware Tools
Deploy antivirus and anti-malware tools to detect and remove malware. Ensure these tools are always kept updated with the latest definitions.[2]
Backup Critical Data
Maintain recent backups of critical data and systems, and store the backups offline or immutable to prevent ransomware accessing and encrypting the backups. Test restoring from backups regularly.[3]
Train Employees on Security
Conduct cybersecurity awareness training for staff to teach them how to identify phishing emails and suspicious links—common ransomware infection vectors. Have a clear policy for reporting suspicious activity.[4]
Segment and Monitor Your Network
Segment your network and monitor traffic to limit ransomware’s ability to spread. Use firewalls to control access between network segments.[5]
Handling a Ransomware Attack
If your organization suffers a ransomware attack, swift action is necessary to contain the damage:
Isolate and Turn Off Infected Devices
Isolate infected computers by unplugging network cables and turning off Wi-Fi. Turn the devices off if possible. This limits ransomware communication and spread.[6]
Determine the Vector and Variant
Investigate logs and remnants of the attack to determine how the ransomware entered your network and what variant it is. This intelligence aids recovery.[7]
Prevent Further Spread
If many devices are compromised, disconnect entire network segments. Suspend domain controllers as this allows ransomware to spread via group policy.[8]
Assess Impact and Restore Systems
Determine which files and systems are impacted. Prioritize and methodically restore high priority systems and data from backups.[9]
Recovering from a Ransomware Attack
The recovery process aims to restore encrypted systems and data, with business continuity in mind:
Wipe Systems and Recover Data
Wipe infected systems to eliminate residual ransomware code lurking on the devices. Reinstall operating systems from scratch before restoring data.[10]
Decrypt Data Where Possible
For some ransomware variants, free decryption keys may be available online. Seek decryption tools from security firms. This data recovery method is not guaranteed.[11]
Refine Security Controls
Learn from the attack by identifying security gaps the attackers exploited. Implement additional controls to boost defenses and prevent repeat attacks.[12]
Review Incident Response Processes
Analyze what worked and what didn’t in your response to the attack. Update your incident response plan accordingly with improved ransomware response procedures.[13]
Conclusion
Ransomware attacks can severely disrupt business operations and lead to permanent data loss without prompt containment and recovery. By layering preventative security controls and preparing an incident response plan focused on rapidly isolating, eradicating, and recovering from ransomware, organizations can minimize damage and avoid paying ransoms.
References
[1] Keep Calm and Patch On Regularly patch and update software and Operating Systems.
[2] Conduct regular vulnerability scanning to identify and address vulnerabilities, especially those on internet-facing devices, to limit the attack surface.
[3] Maintain offline, encrypted backups of data and regularly test your backups.
[4] Train the team Security awareness training is key to stopping ransomware in its tracks.
[5] Segment your network and monitor traffic to limit ransomware’s ability to spread.
[6] Isolate infected computers by unplugging network cables and turning off Wi-Fi.
[7] Investigate logs and remnants of the attack to determine how the ransomware entered your network and what variant it is.
[8] If many devices are compromised, disconnect entire network segments.
[9] Determine which files and systems are impacted. Prioritize and methodically restore high priority systems and data from backups.
[10] Wipe infected systems to eliminate residual ransomware code lurking on the devices.
[11] For some ransomware variants, free decryption keys may be available online.
[12] Learn from the attack by identifying security gaps the attackers exploited. Implement additional controls to boost defenses and prevent repeat attacks.
[13] Analyze what worked and what didn’t in your response to the attack. Update your incident response plan accordingly with improved ransomware response procedures.
