Your business stores a trove of sensitive—and valuable—data on its legacy servers. This data includes everything from private consumer financial records to internal emails and trade secrets.

Unfortunately, this information is like sitting ducks for cybercriminals who are constantly looking for backdoor entrances into your network. These cybercriminals are using an array of advanced, next-generation tools like ransomware to obtain it; that is, software that is capable of holding your data hostage until a hefty fee is paid (typically through Bitcoin).

So ask yourself the following question: If a cybercriminal were to hack into your network and hijack your business’s sensitive information, what length would you to go to get it back?

The truth is that there is no right or wrong answer here, as this is an answer that should keep you up at night. According to a recent study from ThreatTrack Security, for instance, the overwhelming majority of security professionals would take a cavalier approach to a data heist by refusing to negotiate with cybercriminals. In actuality, as many as 55 percent of security professionals have been proven to negotiate with cybercriminals when their data is on the line. Further, when asked whether they believe if other businesses negotiate for the safe return of their data, 86 percent of respondents indicated “yes.”

As the study shows, taking a hard-lined stance against cybercrime is often much easier said than done. In most cases, cybercriminals will threaten to either destroy the stolen data if the fee is not paid, or make private information public online. There is typically no room for negotiation. For this reason, there have even been several instances where law enforcement agencies have been forced to pay hackers to reclaim stolen files from their databases.

So don’t put yourself in the position of having to decide whether you would pay for the return of your stolen information.  Instead, focus on protecting your business’s core network through the help of a managed IT services provider like Apex Technology Services of Norwalk, Connecticut. With the help of an experienced team of data center professionals monitoring your network around-the-clock, you can rest assured that your system will remain protected from online threats at all times.

Click here for more information about the benefits of a managed IT services provider.