Five things you can do to mitigate the threat of ransomware attacks:

Phone and computer with padlocks on them.

1. Backups: Your Ultimate Safety Net

Regular, consistent backups are your single most effective defense against ransomware. An attack can’t hold your data hostage if you have a recent, uncorrupted copy stored separately. The key is to follow the 3-2-1 rule: have at least three copies of your data, store them on at least two different media types (like an external hard drive and cloud storage), and keep at least one copy offline or off-site to protect it from a network-wide attack. Schedule and  regularly test your backups to ensure you can restore your files when you need to.

2. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Lock the Doors

Many ransomware attacks begin by compromising user credentials. Multi-factor authentication adds a crucial second layer of security. It’s not perfect, but it makes it much harder for attackers to use stolen credentials to get into your systems, even if they have your password. Enable MFA on all critical accounts, especially email, cloud services, and privileged user accounts.

3. Patch and Update: Close the Vulnerabilities

Keep your operating systems, applications, and security software fully patched and updated. That will fix most vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. Enable automatic updates whenever possible to ensure you’re always protected by the latest security patches.

4. User Awareness and Training: The Human Firewall

Phishing emails and social engineering are the primary ways ransomware is delivered. Regular, mandatory training can teach employees and individuals how to recognize and avoid malicious emails, suspicious links, and deceptive attachments. 

5. Incident Response Plan: Be Prepared, Not Scrambling

A ransomware attack is a chaotic event. Having a predefined and practiced incident response plan is crucial. This plan should outline the steps to take immediately after an attack, including how to isolate infected systems, communicate with stakeholders, and restore operations. Knowing your roles and responsibilities beforehand minimizes panic, reduces damage, and ensures a faster, more effective recovery.

Summary

Ransomware is one of today’s most disruptive cyber threats, but its impact can be greatly reduced with the right defenses. By maintaining reliable backups, enforcing multi-factor authentication, keeping systems patched and updated, training users to recognize phishing attempts, and having a well-practiced incident response plan, organizations and individuals can significantly strengthen their resilience and recover quickly if an attack occurs.