Ransomware is a type of malicious software that encrypts your data and demands a ransom for its release. It can cripple your business operations, damage your reputation, and cost you millions in recovery and downtime.
Ransomware attacks are on the rise in South Africa, as well as globally. According to Kaspersky, the number of users encountering targeted ransomware increased by 767% from 2019 to 2020, and ransomware attacks doubled in the first four months of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020. South Africa is the second most targeted country in Africa, and the third highest in the world, for ransomware attacks.
One of the most recent and massive ransomware attacks in South Africa involved the IT management software company Kaseya, which was exploited by the Russia-based hacking group REvil in July 2021. The attack affected several South African firms, as well as companies in 17 other countries. REvil demanded $70 million (almost R1 billion) in Bitcoin for a universal decryptor.
This attack shows how vulnerable and exposed businesses are to ransomware, especially if they rely on third-party software or services that may have security flaws. It also shows how sophisticated and coordinated ransomware attackers are, and how they can target multiple victims at once.
So, how can you protect your business from ransomware attacks in South Africa? Here are some tips and best practices to follow:
Backup your data regularly and securely. This is the most important step to prevent data loss and reduce the impact of a ransomware attack. You should have multiple copies of your data, both on-site and off-site, and use encryption and authentication to protect them. You should also test your backups regularly to ensure they are working and accessible.
Update your software and systems. You should always install the latest patches and updates for your software and systems, as they may fix security vulnerabilities that ransomware attackers can exploit. You should also use antivirus and firewall software to detect and block malicious activity on your network.
Educate your staff and users. You should train your staff and users on how to spot and avoid phishing emails, malicious links, and attachments that may contain ransomware. You should also enforce strong passwords and multi-factor authentication for your accounts and devices, and limit the access and privileges of your users to the minimum necessary.
Use a managed service provider (MSP) that offers ransomware protection. If you want to outsource your IT security and management to a trusted and experienced partner, you should look for an MSP that offers ransomware protection as part of their services. An MSP can help you monitor, prevent, and respond to ransomware attacks, as well as provide you with backup and recovery solutions.
As an emerging MSP in South Africa with a strong suite of quality brands helping us secure our clients' data, we offer some of the most comprehensive ransomware protection from our trusted friends at Ricoh. Ricoh is a global leader in digital services and solutions and has been serving South African businesses for over 50 years. Our managed services include Ricoh’s RansomCare, a cutting-edge solution that uses BullWall, the world’s first and only ransomware incident response platform.
RansomCare can help you detect, isolate, and stop ransomware attacks in real-time, before they encrypt your data and cause damage. It can also help you restore your data from backups and provide you with forensic analysis and reporting on the attack. RansomCare is compatible with any backup solution, and can protect any device, server, or cloud service.
With RansomCare, you can rest assured that your business is safe from ransomware attacks, and focus on your core operations and goals. RansomCare is the ultimate ransomware protection for your business.
Our top reasons to consider RamsomCare with MH Office:
It can be deployed remotely and quickly, without affecting your network performance or user experience.
RansomCare monitors your file and cloud shares for any signs of ransomware activity, such as illegitimate encryption or file corruption. It uses advanced behavioural analysis and machine learning to detect ransomware attacks in real-time, even if they are unknown or zero-day variants.
RansomCare responds immediately and automatically when a ransomware attack is detected. It isolates and disables the compromised device, preventing the ransomware from spreading to other devices or shares. It also alerts you and your IT team, and provides you with detailed information on the attack, such as the source, the scope, and the affected files.
RansomCare simplifies your data restoration and compliance reporting. It integrates with your existing backup solution, and helps you identify and restore the latest clean versions of your files. It also generates forensic reports on the attack, which can help you comply with regulatory requirements and improve your security posture.
RansomCare is a complementary layer to your existing security defence. It does not interfere with your antivirus, firewall, or other security solutions, but rather enhances them with a dedicated ransomware protection layer. It also integrates with other solutions, such as Cisco ISE, Aruba, Splunk, IBM QRadar, and ATP, to provide you with a comprehensive and seamless security experience.
RansomCare is the most advanced and effective ransomware protection solution on the market. It can help you prevent data loss, reduce downtime, and save money from ransomware attacks. It can also give you peace of mind and confidence that your business is safe and secure.
If you want to learn more about RansomCare and other solutions, or how we can help you protect your business from ransomware attacks, please visit our website or contact us today. We would love to hear from you and offer you a free consultation and demonstration of our services.
Don’t let ransomware ruin your business. Take action now and secure your data with MH Office Machines.
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