As technology advances, so does all the vulnerabilities and threats along with it. You may have heard of ransomware attacks across the globe that is a serious concern to any organization or government institution. It’s better to be prepared and practice ransomware tabletop exercise scenarios to take the necessary actions in case hackers get to your organization.
Ransomware tabletop exercise scenarios can help your business prepare for ransomware attacks and be ready to combat such cybersecurity attacks while keeping losses to the bare minimum. Let’s look at what ransomware is capable of and how you can be more prepared to deal with it.
Ransomware is more than just a virus
In situations where a user’s computer is infected by a virus, an antivirus like tabletop exercise scenarios can protect the system by blocking the virus and removing it from the computer. However, ransomware poses a huge threat to the stability and infrastructure of a business.
In 2017, the world saw a devastating ransomware attack that took more than 200,000 computers under its grip across more than 150 countries. Called WannaCry, the different variants of the ransomware also attacked factories in 2018 demanding the transfer of bitcoins as ransom. This series of ransomware attacks were traced back to North Korea with estimated damages of billions of dollars.
Ransomware hits 20% of small businesses
In 2017, after the world was hit by WannaCry ransomware, a study was conducted on the severity of the virus and how it impacts small businesses. Findings portrayed a terrifying landscape as more than 32% of small businesses were impacted by ransomware and almost 20% of them had to halt operations from the deadly attack.
Ransomware is a huge digital security concern that not only impacts home computers but also affects large corporations. This is why many companies take measures and invest millions in upgrading their IT infrastructure. However, there may be situations where your business is taken over by hackers through Ransomware, what do you do in that situation? Tabletop exercise scenarios can help your business prepare for ransomware attacks and be ready to combat such cybersecurity attacks.
Preparation is key in overcoming a ransomware situation
Being prepared is a great way to avoid ransomware attacks on your business or organization.
Develop an IR plan
An IR plan or incident response plan is a detailed instructional plan that outlines the policies, actions, and procedures in case of a ransomware attack. Having a laid-out plan brings a sense of calm within an organization and solutions to combat such attacks.
Have a backup
Ransomware attacks can delete business data and affect their operations. However, if a business has a secured backup on an isolated network, it can easily recover lost data and resume operations. But having a backup does not stop sensitive data from spreading. It’s better to be prepared and practice ransomware tabletop exercise scenarios to take the necessary actions.
Regular testing
It is important to conduct regular testing to ensure that all systems are working efficiently without any hiccups. Just like how a business conducts an internal audit to check their business processes and if they’re following the right protocol, testing security systems, IT infrastructure, and backup restores can help reduce any threats and vulnerabilities.
Get a cyber insurance policy
A ransomware attack can lead to millions of dollars in extortions. Oil facility in the USA was taken hostage by hackers using ransomware asking for an undisclosed sum of money to allow resumption of operations. Having an insurance policy to provide financial compensation for such losses is a great way to secure your business from any financial losses associated with a ransomware attack.
Ransomware tabletop exercise scenarios
This is a great way to have your team ready for any situation that may occur, mitigate the ransomware attack, and strengthen their business’s IT security. Reduce your response time and operational downtime with such tabletop exercise scenarios.
