All kinds of businesses require more data to deliver better virtual experiences and services as the line between the digital world and reality begins to blur. Consequently, data security, data privacy, and cybersecurity have become more crucial because businesses collect valuable data from clients locally and abroad. This is because some individuals are aware of the situation and may, unfortunately, target business systems to gain illegal access to sensitive data, putting a company and its clients at risk of damage.
One of the ways they do this is through ransomware, a type of malware that limits users from accessing their system. Usually, they lock the system’s screen, so files become inaccessible to anyone, even the company’s IT personnel. Therefore, the only way users can regain access is to pay the ransom. For a business, this can result in several compromising consequences, such as the following:
- Data leaks
- Spread through networks
- Disrupt business operations
- More service downtime
- Damage to brand or product reputation
- Expensive ransomware payment
One prime example of this is the case with Cryptolocker. It’s a specific piece of ransomware that’s known to be very dangerous as it can go deep into your computer systems. Several businesses have fallen prey to it and faced huge costs. If you wish to guard your business against this ransomware, consider getting Cryptolocker protection by setting up preventive measures.
Today, even big companies with sophisticated cybersecurity systems and protocols occasionally fall victims to ransomware. Therefore, if you get trapped in this situation, it’s critical to know how to deal with it, beginning with early detection. Failure to do so will only give the hackers more time to steal files and create more damage to your system. That said, here’s how you can detect malicious ransomware before it’s too late:
- Use A Malware Detection System
The first step in ransomware early detection is using software to automate detection when you aren’t manually checking your systems for suspicious activity.
For this case, consider integrating an intrusion detection system (IDS) or malware detection tool into your system because it’s the best kind of software for early ransomware detection. IDS will alert you when there’s an intrusion attempt. It detects intrusion by monitoring inbound and outbound traffic in your network and analyzing activity patterns. Once the system detects any unusual activity, it will flag it.
Fortunately, several IDS products are available in the market if you’re now bent on having one for your business, so you can choose which suits your needs best. These are network IDS, host-based IDS, and anomaly-based IDS.
Once you have picked your choice of IDS, you can immediately proceed with a course of action to prevent hackers from gaining access to your system and causing further damage.
- Improve Network Monitoring
The next step would be to improve your network monitoring strategies so you can be alerted of unusual activities for further investigation. You may consider implementing network segmentation and setting your system up for exceptional visibility.
You’ll need this visibility for your network to better monitor east-west traffic activities. East-west traffic refers to the transfer of data packets between servers within your data center. Understanding this will help you understand the unauthorized lateral movement when ransomware attempts to spread. This will also help you identify potential attacks on other crucial applications within your IT system. To better secure your east-west traffic, consider implementing micro-segmentation to help reduce malicious activities.
Furthermore, network segmentation refers to the architectural approach wherein you divide your network into multiple segments or subnets. Each subnet will then act as its own small network. When it comes to handling ransomware, this helps mitigate the damage that one breach causes because only one network will be affected. This will also help your administrators control the traffic flow between these subnets based on granular policies.
Conclusion
Although you may have set preventive measures to stop malware from infiltrating your systems, it’s also essential to have a protocol when one succeeds in getting in. This is because even large companies with complex cybersecurity systems have fallen victim to breaches and ransomware in the past. Thus, to mitigate the negative impact that ransomware can have on your business, early detection is vital because such an attack can result in financial loss, data leaks, and a damaged reputation for your business in the long run. Hopefully, the guide on detecting malicious ransomware discussed in this article has helped you better prepare for when your business suffers an attack. After all, it’s always better to prepare and plan for the future.