Your network has been laid low by a malicious ransomware infection. How long will it be before it makes a complete recovery?

Prepare yourself: It could take your business down for longer than a full day … regaining robustness only through extensive efforts by IT.

Returning to normal business activity after a ransomware attack is no minor process and, unfortunately, there is no foolproof way to prevent the hacks.

What is ransomware?

The malware epidemic known as ransomware has infiltrated the Web, leaving many victims in its wake.  Criminals deploy the viruses used in ransomware through a variety of methods—from exploiting a security vulnerability within a company’s computer operating system or application to sending a spam email with an infected attachment. 

Once infiltration is accomplished, the attackers are able to restrict user access to the computer system until a ransom is paid. All the while that the infection lives, it can be deleting files.

To recover data and devices, abused businesses must comply with the hackers’ demands—or possibly never see their information again. Even if the ransom is paid, the return of stolen files is far from guaranteed.

The recovery process

Financial damages from the virus don’t end with paying the ransom, which usually amounts to $300 for each infected machine (typically, multiple machines are targeted). When all is said and done, the average cost of a ransomware attack for a small- to medium-sized business is $99,000, per Kapersky Labs. This includes lost business data, productivity and perhaps trade secrets or proprietary information, as well as increased spending on IT security.

Now a new Vanson Bourne survey, sponsored by SentinelOne, of 500 cybersecurity decision makers reveals that recovery from a ransomware infection takes 33 employee hours. Suffering this potential consequence were the 48 percent of organizations that reported being subjected to at least one ransomware attack during the last 12 months.

The 33 hours basically comprise decrypting files/data encrypted by the attackers (45 percent of incidents), and replacing encrypted files/data with backed up files/data (25 percent).

As a result of these attacks, more than 68 percent of those polled agreed that traditional cybersecurity techniques—like firewalls and antivirus software—are unable to protect businesses. 

Yet, organizations can take active measures to bulk up their network defenses. Apex Technology Services provides cybersecurity training for employees, and will back up your company’s data so non-payment of ransom doesn’t result in undesirable repercussions. Your data will live offsite in a hosted, protected server.

Ransomware will continue to be an issue for businesses as long as criminals have something to gain from dispensing the virulent software; no organization is impenetrable. While a professional computer expert or MSP can remove the infection, lost data cannot be recovered.

Take steps now to protect your network.

A new breed of hacktrepeneurs has awoken and they have little to fear and everything to gain by infecting as many companies as possible and extorting money from them. Apex Technology Services stands ready to protect your company regardless of whether it’s located in New York City; White Plains, New York; Connecticut; Australia; Europe; or anywhere else. Our full suite of cybersecurity and IT support services is at your disposal, enabling you to spend less time worrying about and more time growing your business.

In addition, our new Cybersecurity Compliance Certification for law firms will help keep your legal practice from becoming the next Panama Papers victim. This baseline cybersecurity audit for the legal industry should be considered seriously by all law firms.