Coronavirus pandemic has shown the best and worst in people; which is no wonder that Ransomware attacks are on the rise.
Despite COVID-19 epidemic everywhere you look there´s another healthcare network or business that has fallen under cybercrime. Ransomware attacks have become another worldwide pandemic and damages could cost the world´s healthcare industry billions of dollars. These attacks can be difficult to prevent since cybercriminals continue to evolve their strategies; the most recent attacks have been focusing on small to medium sized companies with less sophisticated IT systems.
What is Ransomware?
This is a type of malware that target healthcare businesses looking for financial records and all sensitive data regarding patient information; than cybercriminals encrypt this information so healthcare providers’ can´t access it, and in exchanged for not displaying this information to the public, they demand a certain amount of money. This malware can enter your system in numerous ways, the most common one is phishing emails that have embedded links containing ransomware code; the most recent way is through social media, the goal is the same.
How can I prevent a Ransomware attack?
Small to Medium sized organizations may think that paying these hackers is the only way out to get their information back, but this is often the worst solutions and many never receive access to their data even after paying the ransom. So, before something like this happens to your company, there are a few security precautions that you can take:
- Secure your systems. Instead of allowing all employees to access every part of the system, restrict access to certain areas of the network to administrators only.Add anti-malware and anti-virus software to your systems to prevent and even block any threats, these tools will alert any activity on possible malicious sites and emails.
- Train your staff. This has been proven to be one of the most effective ways against cyberattacks; by educating your employees to identify common threats within emails or social media you can significantly reduce the risks of malware entering your system.Keep in mind that hackers are continuously evolving the way in which they attack, so continuous reminders are in order; also, consider email phishing simulators to test your staff as a complement to your training programs.
- Create an emergency plan. In case of an attack, make sure you have strict protocols and procedures to execute as a quick response. In some cases, depending on the ransomware attack, a healthcare provider could seek for law enforcement´s help to get the decrypting key from the FBI´s database. Still, you must perform a deep analysis of your system to determine all specific actions that were taken on the network to identify all possible gaps within your organizations´ IT infrastructure that might have led to an attack in order to avoid future ones.
How can we help?
Ransomware attacks are a serious issue, but instead ofwaiting for an attack to occur, you need to take action now. Sometimes protocols are not enough to keep your company safe; you need a reliable hosting provider as well, like Webline-Services that can offer all the solutions you need to protect your IT system. Our services are budget friendly, and they include the most advanced features; we are your perfect business partner, and you can rest assured that in case of any possible breach, we won´t rest until all issues are solved. Our solutions are the best in the market, so if you are a small to medium sized healthcare provider, Webline-Services has the infrastructure in place to prevent any cybercrime from happening.