5 Steps Construction Companies Can Take to Prevent Ransomware Attacks
When your schedule is based around deadlines, there is no time to worry about what may be lurking. Because of this, the construction industry is more at risk of ransomware attacks that hold your plans, data, and more hostage until you pay up the big bucks. Even then, there is no guarantee that your files will be returned intact or at all. This is why the best course of action is to prevent any chance of this happening from the start.
INI Solutions specializes in securing businesses just like yours from outside threats. Follow along as we give tips and tricks to keep your business running no matter the cyber threat.
Preventing Ransomware in the Construction Industry
With 73% of ransomware attacks proving successful in 2020, it’s important to have foundations in place to prevent them from happening to you. These can include:
1. Identity Management and Verification
Implementing a system where only those within your organization have access to is key. This is more than just making your data private from the open public. It takes it a step further by allowing access to those within your organization that should have access to certain things, such as Mike from Accounting not having access to the IT data. Each team member has their own logins and access to their respective files. When combined with multi-factor authentication, the chance of someone using a login to break in drops considerably.
2. Making IT Security Basics Common Education
Has your boss ever stepped into your work space to ask you to buy $1000 worth of Visa gift cards with your own money with the promise they’ll pay you back? Of course not, so why would they ask you to do it over email?
This is a typical case of a phishing scam and is just one instance of what team members should be educated in for IT security. Scams such as this often lead to ransomware invading your systems after an employee clicks a link they shouldn’t. Once it’s in, it’s hard to get out so preventative training is key.
3. Back Up, Back Up, And Back Up!
Data being held hostage means little when you have the same exact data backed-up from the morning or night before. Sure, you may lose a couple hours of work but when it comes down to the big picture, that’s easy to do again.
Most Cloud Managed Systems include automatic backups that take place every few hours, just in case of emergency situations like this. Hosting this Cloud system with an external party, such as INI, also increases the level of security by distancing the data from attackers while still providing reliable access to your productivity applications, mission-critical business data and other essential software.
4. Lock ‘Em and Toss ‘Em
Unfortunately, even with all of these practices, ransomware may still break through. When this happens, it’s imperative that your organization moves fast to contain the threat before it begins spreading through the system.
Once the threat has been contained, it must be purged from the system through the eradication process. This includes backing up all files and restoring after in a selective process that allows your team to continue working.
5. Hire Experts To Do It For You
We know how important it is to stay on schedule. If this all seems like a lot of work, it is. Preventing ransomware attacks and eradicating them with minimal damage when they do occur can take a lot of time, money, and resources.
Working with an IT team like Intuitive Networks can change that. Our team is constantly on the attack against virtual threats to your business. From preventative measures to getting your system back to the way it was before, we are there to keep your business running.
Are you ready for security?
Contact us to start your personalized IT journey today.
