How To Know If You're Vulnerable To Ransomware
Ransomware is on the rise and it's never been more dangerous than in 2020. The cyber threat landscape has changed and it appears that ransomware is the new king.
According to Emsisoft Ltd., ransomware payments were in excess of $18 billion in 2020 and we expect that to grow in 2021. Now that ransomware is big business, organizations and end users need to be more vigilant than ever. This article will uncover 5 quick tips to discover how to know if you’re vulnerable to ransomware.
5 Ways To Know If You’re Vulnerable To Ransomware
- Your network is connected to the internet
- Employees haven’t received defensive end user training
- You don’t have your network mapped out
- Your firewall doesn’t have an active security subscription
- Your firewall rules are outdated
Your network is connected to the internet
It’s sad to say but it is true. Every network that is connected to the internet is at risk of ransomware. The internet is an open door to the digital world and there are bad actors waiting around every corner looking for vulnerabilities. Fortunately there are experts, equipment, and software businesses that can deploy to add a protective layer of security.
Employees haven’t received defensive end user training
Employees are the biggest risk to being vulnerable to ransomware. If proper training isn’t implemented, employees might often unknowingly let sophisticated ransomware attacks onto the network. This is done by clicking links, opening emails, accepting transferred files, and so much more. To maintain a network environment that isn’t vulnerable to ransomware, it’s important to train employees to spot and avoid malicious ransomware attempts.
You don’t have your network mapped out
If you don’t know or have an understanding of your network layout, you’re missing insight into your vulnerabilities. Knowing how many and which devices are attached to the network is critical to preventing ransomware. Endpoint protection is universally considered good practice amongst security professionals. Ensuring that all the endpoints of the network are protected may be the easiest and quickest way to protect yourself from ransomware.
Your firewall doesn’t have an active security subscription
A firewall without an active security subscription is no better than a $50 router that you can pickup in a local tech store. Security subscriptions are what makes a business grade firewall valuable and necessary to protect against ransomware.
If you’ve spent the money on a quality firewall, augment it with the security features that were created to keep malicious ransomware attacks at bay.
Your firewall rules are outdated
Networks change over time. Businesses grow, contract, introduce new equipment, and much more. Using legacy firewall rules or configurations potentially leave the network at risk for ransomware. It’s good practice to continually do health checks of the firewall and adjust the rules accordingly to the current network landscape.