In the past 96 hours, the WannaCry ransomware attack has become the most widespread cyber-attack of its kind in history, affecting more than 300,000 computer in 150 countries around the world. Given the scale of this threat, we felt it was important to alert you. So what does this mean for you?
Note: If you're a managed IT services client of ours, you can rest assured because we have put the necessary security measures, processes and monitoring in place to keep your company safely out of harm's way. And we don't rest on our laurels, instead we stay vigilant and informed about the latest trends and threats, and invest both time and money in the best techniques and tools available, all with the goal of keeping our clients' safe.
If you're not a Sentryon plan client, there are four things you should check immediately to ensure your critical business systems and data are protected:
- Keep network devices and computers patched and up-to-date. New vulnerabilities are frequently found in common software programs such as Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office, Adobe Reader, and others. Therefore, it's critical to patch and update systems and applications when patches become available. The WannaCry ransomware in particular exploited a vulnerability in Windows systems that were missing a critical security patch released back in March.
- Replace Out-of-Date Software. As software vendors release new versions of their programs, they often cease support for older versions, which means no security updates or patches. If you continue using software that is no longer supported, you are placing yourself at a higher risk for security attacks.
- Install a Business-Grade Image Backup BOTH On-Premise and In The Cloud. This important step can save the day with even the most aggressive (and new) ransomware attacks. Ransomware works by locking up your files and then demanding payment to restore access to them. But if your files are safely backed up, you don't need to worry about paying a crook to get them back.
This is not an exhaustive list though, as there are many more security layers that need to be in place to protect your company from all the different threats out there.
If you know another business leader who is concerned that their systems are not as protected as they would hope, and would be interested in a complimentary 68-Point IT Security & Performance Assessment, please call us at 416-440-1400 or send us a message.