Datalyst Blog

Ransomware is one of the more dangerous threats out there for businesses of all industries and sizes. To help emphasize just how dangerous it is, however, you have to look past the initial threat of having to pay a ransom and look at the other risks associated with it. We’re here to try to get the point across that ransomware is something your business should absolutely be taking seriously.

We’re all well aware of the annoying nuisance that is junk email. In fact, we’re all so used to it, that it’s pretty easy to dismiss it as an irritating fact of life, when it still has the potential to be very harmful.

As a business owner, you need to be aware of the threats that lurk in your employees’ inboxes, because spam, and phishing attacks in particular, are the leading attack vector of some of the worst cyberattacks out there.

Ransomware is such a common occurrence these days that it has entered the public discourse, but we also want to note that it’s such an important topic to discuss with your team that you can never talk about it enough. We want to address some of the most common questions we get asked about ransomware and what can be done about it.

There is a lot made about ransomware, for good reason. It is quite simply one of the nastiest cyberattacks out there and it demands your attention. A lot of people understand what exactly ransomware sets out to do, but they don’t understand how it got that far and how to address the situation if they have the misfortune of being put in that position. 

We talk a lot (and we mean a lot) about cybersecurity, with ransomware getting a lot of our focus…and for very good reason. Ransomware is a huge threat that today’s businesses need to be prepared to deal with. In light of this, we wanted to share a few tips to help you avoid the negative ramifications of ransomware.

This past January, the Federal Bureau of Investigation issued an announcement that they had targeted and taken down the servers for a Dark Web organization responsible for the Hive ransomware group. While there is certainly cause for celebration here, one major statistic is enough reason to continue being concerned.

Ransomware is one of the more dangerous threats out there today, and since it is so prominent and dangerous, it is a popular choice amongst hackers. To combat this threat, a community has formed around the cause, encouraging users to not pay the ransom by providing free malware removal tools for the most popular ransomware threats.

Ransomware is devastating as a cyberthreat, but some industries are hurt by it more than others. One such industry is education, and universities and schools are struggling to keep up with these cyberthreats. Most even do the unthinkable in response to attacks: they pay the ransom.

When you really think about it, CPA firms are really the ideal target for the financially-motivated cybercriminal. This means that these firms should be particularly on their guard against online threats. This requires an awareness of how these threats are shaped.

Let’s take a few moments to consider how today’s most prevalent threats would target an accounting firm and what can be done to help stop them.

Did you know that the United States is the leader in ransomware payments? According to a survey from Mimecast titled “The State of Ransomware Readiness,” the U.S. has the highest average payment for ransomware out of the entire world at more than $6 million per victim. These shocking numbers likely stem from high-profile ransomware attacks, but they are also indicative of a larger problem, that being people who still pay the ransom.

We often discuss how your business can avoid the impact of ransomware, but what we don’t often discuss is what happens to businesses that do, in fact, suffer from such a devastating attack. We want to use today’s blog as an opportunity to share what your business should (and should not) do in the event of a ransomware attack, as well as measures you can take to avoid suffering from yet another in the future.

All industries today are susceptible to cyberattacks, but it’s easy for certain types of businesses to feel they are the exception. Take construction for example. Many people wouldn’t anticipate the construction industry to be a viable or worthwhile target for cybercriminals and hackers. Unfortunately, cybercriminals don’t see it this way. 

Ransomware has become THE topic of conversation in the IT world, and it seems that there is a new ransomware headline every day. Unfortunately, this can lead some business owners to become indifferent to the threat, exposing their networks to compromise. Here’s why you should consider ransomware an existential threat to your business.

We know, we know; you’re probably sick of seeing ransomware in headlines, and so are we, but we cannot stress enough how important having an awareness of it is for any business owner. A new study has found that businesses infected by ransomware who choose to pay up experience a different type of fallout--one that is a major cause for concern and a stark reminder that there are no guarantees with ransomware. Ever.

What if I told you that 92 percent of all organizations that are hit by a ransomware attack and agree to settle with the scammers, don’t ever see their data again? You’d probably say that you would never, ever pay and those that do, don’t make sense. Most people keep that stance until their choices are to pay for the data in the hopes of getting it back, or lose it completely. Let’s unpack ransomware and the strategy that hackers most utilize to deploy it: Phishing.

Many businesses still think they can’t be targeted by cybercriminals because of their size or industry. Companies feel that if they aren’t handling millions of dollars, they have nothing to worry about. As ransomware attacks continue, cybercriminals are turning their attention to the transportation industry.

Many Massachusetts organizations have found themselves face-to-face with cyberattacks in the form of ransomware. While cyberattacks may seem inevitable, there are steps you can take to protect your business. Here is why 2FA is the one thing you can implement to reduce the chances of a data breach.

Many businesses don’t think about ransomware until they suddenly can’t access any of their data without paying off a cybercriminal. However, Massachusetts has one of the most robust data protection laws in the nation. This means that even if you manage to regain your data, your business may still be in jeopardy if you don’t follow Massachusetts’ data protection laws. Here’s how you can protect your business.

Cybercriminals will always target your team first, as your team is, unfortunately, the weakest link in your cybersecurity chain. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are three tips to transform your team from the weakest link to your first line of defense protecting your data.

Are you backing up your data regularly? With ransomware attacks increasing, your backup is your best defense, but only if it's done right. Take a moment to see if you're following best practices to back up and retrieve your data in case of a disaster.