How to Protect Your Databases and Ensure Ransomware Recovery after an Attack 

Cyber-attacks are on the rise for a few years because of many reasons. Among them, easy access to learning sources like YouTube, the trend of remote working, and the use of Cryptocurrency in dealings are the main reasons. Although all types of virus attacks are a common phenomenon, yet Ransomware attacks are more recurrent than others. They are pervasive, ever-evolving threats impacting organizations globally, regardless of their sizes, geographic locations, and industry. Only those companies can withstand these attacks that are proactive about installing a good strategy for protecting their databases and ensuring ransomware recovery for the event of misfortune.

Preparation is a key for all types of problems. And ransomware attacks usually strike without prior warning; this leaves organizations under a high-pressure and, high-stakes recovery challenge. Therefore, the only way of cyber resilience against these attacks is advanced security preparedness. If you wish to learn more about ways of protecting databases and recovering data after an attack, continue reading!

What is Ransomware?

Ransomware is a virus that cybercriminals use to infect computers and encrypt computer files. They keep this data encrypted until the ransom is paid. Once a system is infected, ransomware will try to spread to other systems, including shared storage drives and other accessible computers connected with it.

If the victim organization doesn’t pay the ransom, the operators of attack either destroy their data or sell it to their competitors. Moreover, sometimes even after paying the ransom, these internet criminals don’t give the decryption keys. This is why it is recommended that instead of paying them a heavy chunk of money in the shape of ransom, hire cyber security solutions and they will get you back all your data.

What can You do to Protect Your Data and Networks?

Following are the steps you can take to protect your data and networks against ransomware attacks.

Back up Your Data and Systems: 

The first thing you should do to avoid any data loss is; perform frequent backups of your system and other important files. Also, you should verify these backups regularly for advanced security. These backups will be of great help if somehow an intruder has become successful in infecting your systems and files.

Update and Patch Your System: 

System and software providers, when find some vulnerabilities and flaws in their current version, develop a new version free of these flaws. And internet extortionists always launch their attacks through those vulnerabilities. Therefore, it is very important to keep your systems and applications updated with the latest patches.

Install the Best Anti-Virus Software:

A reliable anti-virus, firewalls, and email filters are the first guards you can use against all types of cyber-attacks. So, it is recommended to install a good anti-virus and email filters on all your systems. Also, never forget to update them because the updated versions can identify and ward off new viruses.

Train Your Employees on Ransomware Attacks:

Organize occasional training of your employees for guiding them on the identification and prevention of ransomware attacks. Ask them never to download and install any application from an unauthentic source. Also, urge them to never click on unverified links because doing so will start the process of a ransomware attack.

Store Your Backups Offline/Offsite:

Storing your backup offline or on the cloud is the best practice to keep your data beyond the access of cybercriminals. When bad actors attack your system, they not only infect all your systems but try to destroy your online backups too. Therefore, keeping backups disconnected from your systems can only save them from ransomware infections.

What You Can Do for a Successful Ransomware Recovery:

You can try the following methods to recover your data if you are struck by a ransomware attack.

• Try to recover your data from the backups you have kept for the rainy day. But before recovering, make sure your backup is not infected and you have removed the virus from your systems. For the removal of viruses, you can hire the services of cyber security solutions.
• Use advance technology i.e. Identity verification solutions
• If you have not kept any backup, use recovery software for getting your data back. In most cases, cybercriminals make copies of your data and then encrypt them before deleting the original files. You can try to recover those files with recovery software.
• You can also try the window restoration method to recover your data.

If the above methods didn’t work, try recreating your data from emails you have sent to clients, employees, and other stakeholders. Although this process is very time-consuming, yet it can ensure ransomware recovery most of the time.