As ominous as these three certainties bundled together sound—data loss, downtime, and disruption—they’re all more than likely to impact your business in some form. Unfortunately, how you respond to these inevitable occurrences will determine how long your business suffers. Effective ransomware recovery plans can help mitigate the impact of such attacks. In this guide against malware, you’ll learn practical ways to combat ransomware so you’re not on the path to disaster.
My Business Is Under Attack by Ransomware—What Should I Do Now?
If you’re facing a ransomware attack, you’re not alone. In fact, more than 4,000 businesses fall victim to this form of extortion every single day. First and foremost, do not pay the ransom. While it may seem like a quick fix, there’s no guarantee you’ll get your files back. Worse, paying up can make you a repeat target—leaving you without your data and out of money. A sound ransomware recovery strategy is essential to protect your assets.
How Can I Recover My Files Without Paying a Ransom?
Fortunately, recovery is possible—depending on the type and severity of the ransomware. One common variant is Lockscreen ransomware, which disables your device and falsely accuses you of criminal activity to pressure payment. Implementing ransomware recovery solutions early can assist in these situations.
Here’s what you should do:
- Stay calm. Panic leads to poor decisions.
- Find a trusted IT professional who can assess your workstation.
- Reboot your system in Safe Mode. This disables most malware functions and aids in ransomware recovery.
- Run your antivirus software immediately. Safe Mode allows you to bypass the ransomware’s paywall and locate the infection.
- Remove the malware. Once identified, your antivirus can help exterminate it.
By following these steps, you may be able to regain access without paying a dime. Ransomware recovery is crucial in restoring normal operations.
Last Thought: Prevention Is Power
Ultimately, the best defense is a strong offense. Staying on top of software patching and implementing web/email filtering can be your saving grace. Moreover, managed service providers offer antivirus tools that patch vulnerabilities and filter out malicious traffic. For ongoing ransomware recovery readiness, these measures are key.
In other words, finding a preemptive network solution for your business is the difference between disaster recovery and true preparedness.
Charles Lobert, has been in the Detroit Metro Area’s IT industry for over two decades & with VCS since ’04. Throughout the years, Lobert has held nearly every position at VCS & is responsible for several major organizational shifts within VCS.