Without adequate prevention strategies, businesses may easily fall victim to cyberattacks that permanently destroy vital company assets. Consequences of failing to properly defend against data invasions may be devastating, particularly for businesses that use data as a core foundation of their business model. As digital assets become more and more important, the importance of effective strategies against digital threats has grown in tandem. Here are 5 of the most effective modern strategies to prevent cyber threats such as ransomware attacks.
1. Bolster Network Defences with SIEM Software
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tech is an essential cybersecurity component that should be used in conjunction with antivirus software. SIEM software monitors, logs, and analyzes all interactions within a designated computer network. For a company, this means all requests made from individual employee computers to large servers are accounted for, allowing swift threat detection. This type of software intercepts threats in real-time, as soon as a suspicious request is either sent or received, making it much faster than regular antivirus software.
2. Install Comprehensive Email Filters
Ransomware may take control of an entire computer network through a single suspicious email, which means email security is a top priority. Modern hackers attach threats to seemingly inconsequential aspects of an email, such as through images and word document attachments. Today, even unopened emails can cause cyber attacks to leak through into the network. Hence, incorporating email filters that intercept suspicious emails before they reach the inbox is a must. Email solutions that sort, filter, and delete all incoming communications is an effective way of preventing threats.
3. Enforce Complex and Varied Password Protocols
Sensitive data that’s critical to company operations should always follow complex protocols concerning encryption. Even if an attack completely takes hold of a network, sensitive data may still be completely protected with the right password protocols. As encrypted files may be inaccessible to regular human users, the same principle also applies to hacking software should proper encryption within the network take place. Enforce strategies of encrypting critical company data using complex hash algorithms, which are applied separately to different data groupings.
4. Use Robust Backup Strategies
Contingency planning that involves constant and continuous backup strategies will prevent cyberattacks from targeted hackers. Organized hacking syndicates target vulnerable companies which they believe have a high chance of paying ransom after a ransomware attack. Businesses that don’t correctly backup essential data are likely to cave into paying the ransom as otherwise they may face even worse consequences such as bankruptcy. By constantly backing up all critical data on a regular basis, preventing attacks from organized syndicates is possible.
5. Conduct Regular Software Updates and Reviews
All software involved in cyberattack prevention, whether antivirus or SIEM, should be updated to reflect the latest developments within the cybersecurity space. Missing a single update can leave businesses exposed to the latest and most advanced hacking strategies. The world of cyber threats is evolving dramatically with each passing day, which means using outdated software is just as bad as having no software at all. Conduct regular reviews of software, ensuring that everything is updated to prevent the latest threats recognized by the community.
