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Ransomware is malware that encrypts files on a system, then demands a ransom payment to decrypt and return the data. It can cause significant downtime and loss of productivity and damage a business’s reputation. Attackers can also blackmail victims into paying by threatening to expose the breach, further damaging their brand.

Attackers are becoming more sophisticated. They target organizations with lax cybersecurity and can wreak havoc across the entire organization. The most impacted sectors are education, healthcare, and manufacturing. Attackers have even hacked into critical infrastructure systems to disrupt the operation of cities and countries.

Despite the rising threats, companies can take several steps to prevent a ransomware attack. Identify and stop the infection at the source with a layered security approach.

A layered security strategy can include malware blockers and network segmentation, as well as strong passwords and two-factor authentication. A centralized security management platform brings all the threat information together to analyze, prioritize and respond quickly.

Investing in a strong patch management program can help organizations protect themselves from ransomware attacks by ensuring the latest patches are in place on all systems and applications.

The best way to deal with a ransomware attack is to restore from backups, but that can take time and may not recover all the data. Some organizations are tempted to pay the ransom, but experts strongly advise against it. Paying the ransom encourages attackers and doesn’t guarantee the recovery of any data.