🛡️ September: Building Ransomware Resilience 🛡️

#cybersecurity #ransomware

If there’s one word that keeps IT teams awake at night, it’s Ransomware.
Ransomware attacks don’t just lock files they can halt operations, leak sensitive data and destroy reputations. For SMBs especially, the impact can be catastrophic.

That’s why September is Ransomware Resilience Month to help organizations prepare, protect and recover.

💣 What is Ransomware? 💣

Ransomware is malicious software that encrypts files and demands payment (usually in cryptocurrency) for their release.
Some advanced strains now also perform double extortion: they exfiltrate data first and threaten to publish it if ransom isn’t paid.

🧠 Real-Life Example: WannaCry Attack (2017) 🧠
In May 2017, the WannaCry ransomware spread worldwide, exploiting a Windows vulnerability.
It hit over 200,000 computers in 150+ countries.
Organizations like the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) saw thousands of appointments canceled because hospital systems were locked.
Damage estimates reached billions of dollars.
Many of the victims were SMBs running outdated systems and lacking proper backups showing that ransomware doesn’t just target big corporations.

🔐 Practical Steps for IT Workers 🔐

1️⃣ Patch and Update Regularly

Most ransomware spreads by exploiting unpatched systems. Ensure OS, browsers and critical software are always updated.

2️⃣ Backup, Backup, Backup...

Maintain 3-2-1 backup strategy: 3 copies of data, 2 on different media, 1 offsite/offline.
Test backups regularly to ensure recovery works.

3️⃣ Implement Least Privilege Access

Users should only have access to what they need.
Admin accounts should be tightly controlled.

4️⃣ Email and Web Filtering

Deploy spam filters to catch phishing attempts (the #1 ransomware entry point).
Train staff to avoid suspicious attachments or links.

5️⃣ Network Segmentation

Divide your network so ransomware can’t spread laterally across all systems.

6️⃣ Incident Response Plan
Document what to do if ransomware strikes:

Who to notify
How to isolate systems
Which recovery steps to follow

🛠️ Free Tools to Help SMBs

✅ No More Ransom Project (nomoreransom.org
) – Provides free decryption tools for certain ransomware families.

✅ Windows Defender / Microsoft Security Essentials – Strong built-in protection if kept updated.

✅ Malwarebytes (Free Edition) – Useful for detecting and removing ransomware-related malware.

💡 My Thoughts 💡

For many SMBs, ransomware feels like an “only big companies get hit” problem. The truth? Attackers often prefer SMBs because defenses are weaker, backups may be inconsistent and downtime is harder to absorb.

Think of ransomware resilience like a seatbelt: