Is ransomware making you wanna cry?
If you're feeling like you can barely scratch the surface of disaster recovery planning these days before encountering some scary news about ransomware, you're not alone. From the 2017 WannaCry virus to the 2018 Atlanta ransomware attack, the pervasive threat has been dominating headlines. While it doesn't seem like it's going to let up, strategies to help recover from ransomware are also starting to emerge.
Ransomware locks a victim's data up, usually via encryption, and demands a -- you guessed it -- monetary ransom to return access. However, as anyone who has seen a modern action movie knows, just paying the ransom doesn't mean your hostages are going to be freed. Since you can't really trust criminals to play by the rules, ransomware prevention and recovery are definitely preferable to paying up.
Data backups are a common method of ransomware prevention, but not impenetrable themselves. If backups are infected, it becomes that much more difficult to recover from ransomware. This is where testing comes into play. Before a ransomware attack strikes, it's vital to know that your backups are secure and your restore time is within an acceptable range. Scheduling regular restore tests can help ensure that your recovery plan is solid.
It may be impossible to completely prevent a ransomware attack, but the effects can be minimized. Early detection and in-depth security help, but it's important not to rely on those first lines of defense in case of a breach. Planning for an attack and knowing what your organization needs to recover from ransomware can mean the difference between persevering through an attack and, well, wanting to give up and cry.