At time of writing, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council are currently dealing with a ransomware attack which has left their systems down for three weeks.

So, could your business cope with a three week down time? Do you have a back up server that you could operate on while you try to get back control of your servers? The truth is that most companies, even extremely large ones would be hit with a considerable cost to the business should a breach occur.

The fact is as a business owner, your business is very precious to you. It’s something you have built from the ground up and poured your blood, sweat and tears into. Unfortunately, these hackers are fully aware of this. That is why the number of ransomware attacks increases year by year. They know that many people would rather pay a ransom than lose control of the business they have worked so hard to build. (Even though paying the ransom doesn’t necessarily mean you will get your system back).

How do I check if my business is ready for an attack?

If you have got this far, you are probably wondering if your business would be able to deal with an attack. Well here are a few questions that you should be asking yourself;

Is my Antivirus Software and my Firewall up-to-date and from a reputable company?

Simply put, this is your defence when the hackers try to get through, you need to make sure that what you have is of good quality. There are numerous companies offering these services, it is important to check their accreditation and awards to see if the software they are offering, will do the job you need it to.

Do we have a quality back up server?

If the worst happens, and these hackers have complete control of your systems, how do you continue running your business? You need to have a quality back up server that is separate to your main server, this will allow you to switch your day to day operations with minimal loss of files and time.

Do you train your staff on cybersecurity?

Most breaches occur when the hacker is presented with access. For example this can happen by a member of the team clicking an attachment on a dodgy email. The easiest way of preventing a breach, is never allowing that access. As part of our managed IT service we send out mock phishing emails to test your team, and then report on which of your team have clicked dangerous links. Helping your prioritise training for those that need it.

Let us help.

There are multiple ways that you can and probably should be making sure you are safe from a Ransomware attack. As part of our managed IT service, we will take care of your Firewalls, your backups and will provide Cyber Security Training. That way you can get on with what’s important, running your business without the worry that it will be taken away from you.

Get in touch with us today for a free security audit.