6 Steps to Defend Against Ransomware

26 August 2022

6 Steps to Defend Against Ransomware

Ransomware attacks impact almost every business. In 2020, over 300 million ransomware attacks were documented. Compared to the number of ransomware attacks recorded in 2019, this number increased by over 60%. A significant factor in ransomware attacks is the number of software vulnerabilities and misconfigurations that cybercriminals can exploit to gain access to the company and spread the attack.

Ransomware Attacks Vulnerabilities

Companies’ widespread implementation of work-from-home systems compels cybercriminals to search for methods to spread remote access and vulnerabilities in application networks. One of the largest ransomware syndicates targets VPNs, web servers, remote desktops, and, more recently, remote IT management infrastructure. Software vulnerabilities have become the fastest growing ransomware attack vector due to a large number of Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) published annually and the lack of user interaction requirements for data dissemination.

6 Steps to Defend Against Ransomware

The company must withstand ransomware attacks, as the resulting losses will be substantial. Here are six steps to improve IT security to defend against ransomware:

Perform scanning as often as possible and perform scanning on all devices or data

An increasing number of ransomware strains rely heavily on software flaws to initiate attacks. Therefore, continually assessing the company’s entire attack surface is essential. Specifically on web applications, infrastructure for remote access, and operational technology devices, as your IT environment evolves and new vulnerabilities emerge.

Protect Active Directory More strictly to protect critical data

Active Directory (AD) contains vital information for all users, endpoints, applications, and servers, including login credentials, configuration settings, and access policies. Companies must ensure that Active Directory is devoid of configuration errors that enable cybercriminals to attack all IT systems and end-user devices.

Lower privilege escalation

Changes to Active Directory, Syslog, and event logs can be correlated with the proper intelligence to identify privileged account abuse and misconfiguration exploits. Additionally, the technology will enable incident response teams to proactively prevent ransomware attacks from spreading through AD. Integrate these data with SIEM to collect information forwarded from event logs and other systems.

Prioritize security based on predictions

Utilize real-time threat intelligence to comprehend the most recent ransomware attack paths and obtain guidance on the optimal enterprise strategy. The vulnerabilities exploited by ransomware tend to cluster around weaknesses and specific asset categories. This enables your company to anticipate which vulnerabilities will likely be used in ransomware attacks and proactively address them before business-impacting events.

Restore anything because all devices are essential for the company

Occasionally, a component’s vulnerabilities are not entirely addressed. It is crucial to use vulnerability management to automate workflows, correlate vulnerabilities with patches, and ensure that the team has fixed all vulnerable components.

Always measure its vulnerabilities to improve security

Cyber hygiene practices such as assessment capabilities, remediation speed, and overall cyber risk reduction should be measured. A technology solution is required to make it simpler for teams to take measurements, communicate how operational controls function (or do not function), and compare data.

These are the 6 steps you can take to safeguard your company from ransomware. In addition, Aplikas Servis Pesona, a subsidiary of Phintraco Group, can advise your company on its IT security requirements. Aplikas Servis Pesona provides enterprises with all types of IT security solutions, including data security, network security, endpoint security, and security and monitoring tools. With over 20 years of experience, Aplikas Servis Pesona is prepared to provide ransomware protection solutions for your company.

Reference:

https://www.tenable.com/blog/focus-on-the-fundamentals-6-steps-to-defend-against-ransomware

Increased Intensity of Cyberattacks in the Digital Transformation Era