Our five top tips for keeping your SME safe from ransomware attacks

In today’s increasing online world, ransomware attacks are an ever-present threat - particularly for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). 

Smaller businesses often lack the more robust security infrastructures that help keep larger organisations safe. This makes SMEs attractive targets for cybercriminals. 

The good news is that there’s a range of practical steps you can take to bolster your defences and minimise the impact of potential attacks. 

Here are Solis top five tips for protecting your SME business from ransomware:

• Develop an incident response plan - and test it regularly
  Having an incident response plan is crucial if you want to respond effectively in the event of a ransomware attack. Your plan won’t prevent an attack; but it will enable you to take a structured approach that minimises downtime and reduces the overall impact on your business. Regular testing will make sure your team is familiar with the plan and able to execute it effectively under pressure.
• Secure your access to external support
  However well prepared you are, you’ll likely want to be able to call on external expertise to help you navigate the complexities of a ransomware attack. You may already have access to this type of support through a cyber insurance policy. If not, make sure you can call on appropriate external support, for example: cybersecurity consultants or Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs). Their specialist experience and knowledge can prove invaluable in guiding your response efforts and mitigating damage.
• Protect the remote services
  With remote work becoming increasingly prevalent, securing all your remote access points is absolutely essential. You should ensure you implement robust access control policies and mandate multi-factor authentication (MFA) for any and every form of remote access. MFA adds an extra layer of security, making it significantly harder for attackers to gain unauthorised entry into your systems.
• Enhance your security tooling and controls
  Investing in advanced security solutions can significantly enhance your ability to detect and respond to threats. A Managed Detection and Response (MDR) service provides continuous proactive monitoring and can identify potential threats and apply their specialist expertise to fix them before they escalate into full-blown attacks. Early detection can stop many attacks in their earliest stages, protecting your business from the worst potential consequences.
• Implement good data backup and recovery practices
  Data backups are your last line of defence against ransomware. Adopting a 3-2-1 strategy (three copies of your data, on two different media, with one copy kept offsite) ensures your ability to recover data, even if your primary systems are compromised. Test your backups regularly to make sure they can be restored quickly and effectively in an emergency.

By implementing these five key tips, you can significantly enhance your resilience against ransomware attacks. While no single solution provides complete protection, a comprehensive approach that combines planning, support, access control, advanced security measures and robust data backups can mitigate the risks and help keep your SME business operating securely and profitably for many years to come.

For more information contact us at enquiries.uk@solissecurity.com