September 19, 2024 Ransomware attacks are increasingly common, posing a growing threat to businesses and organizations of all sizes. In 2023, over 40% of Canadian companies experienced breaches, leading to significant financial and organizational impacts.
“Taking a structured military approach can be key in successfully maneuvering your way through an event,” says Ditmar Tavares, CEO and founder of Locknetwork Inc.
Step 1: Stop the Bleeding
The first step, similar to securing a battlefield, is to disconnect any infected systems to prevent the ransomware from spreading.
Do You Have a Response Plan?
If you have an incident or breach response plan, begin implementing it. Key steps include:
1. Identifying the type of ransomware; decryption tools might be available.
2. Assessing which systems and data are affected.
3. Applying security patches, removing malware, and addressing vulnerabilities.
4. Restoring systems from clean backups.
5. Monitoring for additional attacks.
Final Step: Communication and Post-Mortem
Communication is crucial throughout and after the incident. Stakeholders such as internal staff, external clients, suppliers, legal teams, and regulatory bodies must be informed, keeping privacy legislation in mind.
Once recovery is complete, conduct a post-mortem to identify improvement areas in your response and to proactively protect against future attacks.
Implementing a structured response is crucial in minimizing damage and recovering effectively from a cyber attack.