Microsoft published a report in August 2022 stating that over 80 percent of ransomware attacks can be traced to common configuration errors in software and devices. This figure speaks to a huge point of vulnerability for businesses—many of which are finding themselves shelling out big bucks to cybercriminals to get their data back, which is the core purpose of ransomware.
And this attack type isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Verizon’s 2022 Data Breach Investigations Report found that ransomware attacks increased by 13 percent year over year—a jump greater than the last five years combined.
Businesses of all sizes need to figure out how to shore up their networks to protect against this growingly venomous cyber threat. Part of successfully combatting ransomware is to stay up to date on its evolution. Below we dive into the latest in ransomware’s progress and how you can stay safe from it in your business.
What’s New in Ransomware?
Ransomware has moved to an “as-a-service” model in which cybercriminals purchase access to ransomware payloads, data leakage, and payment infrastructure, according to Microsoft. You might hear of gang-related ransomware activity, but those “gangs” are software solutions such as REvil that many cybercriminals use and switch among.
Just like with as-a-service models on the right side of the law, ransomware as a service (RaaS) enables cybercriminals to become successful attackers with a relatively low barrier to entry. All you need is a computer and a credit card.
Neophyte cybercriminals can even purchase ransomware kits to help them get started—illustrating how industrial the world of cybercrime has become.
How Can You Protect Your Business from Ransomware?
If you opt for enterprise technology from Microsoft, you’ll benefit from the billions of dollars of investment they have made in developing robust security solutions.
Microsoft recommends bolstering security to stop ransomware in its tracks using a combination of the right tools and processes.
- Build a security culture using Zero Trust frameworks, and consistently train employees so people are empowered to make decisions that support security.
- Create a recovery plan so everyone in your organization knows what to do when an attack occurs.
- Invest in solutions that block ransomware before it has a chance to infiltrate your business.
Tools should include security incidents and event management (SIEM) and extended detection and response (XDR):
- Microsoft Sentinel is a cloud-based SIEM tool that gives you insight into your business so you can aggregate security data from any source and speed up threat response. It helps you flexibly scale to meet security needs and skip costly infrastructure setup and maintenance.
- Microsoft 365 Defender is XDR technology that enables you to prevent and detect ransomware attacks across your apps, endpoints, email, identities, and more. If an attack occurs, you can investigate and respond to it with the industry’s top tools—all from one dashboard.
- Microsoft Defender for Cloud also delivers XDR capabilities, but specifically for protecting multi-cloud and hybrid cloud workloads from ransomware. You’ll get prioritized alerts so you can focus on protecting the most important end points, whether those be servers, internet of things devices, or databases.
Questions About Ransomware and How to Tackle It?
Every business should be concerned about its vulnerability to ransomware—and there are more threats growing in sophistication every day. That’s why Point Alliance helps organizations leverage Microsoft’s superior security solutions so you can sleep easily knowing your business is protected. We’d be happy to talk to you about your cybersecurity needs and discuss how we can help you shore up your security to keep modern threats at bay. Contact us with any questions.
