Protecting and Responding to Ransomware Attacks – A Best Practice
Let’s start with the basics: ransomware, a malicious software, poses a significant threat to organizations by encrypting their data and demanding payment for its restoration. This type of attack disrupts business operations and presents management with a dilemma: to pay the ransom or restore operations themselves. Unlike other cyberattacks that steal data for monetization, ransomware demands immediate action and often leaves little time for remediation or communication.
In most cases, ransomware is spread through phishing emails containing malicious attachments, portable computers, exposure to public WiFi, Zero-Day vulnerabilities, and drive-by downloading. Drive-by downloading occurs when a user unknowingly visits an infected website, and then malware is downloaded and installed without their knowledge.
For example, a malware variant known as crypto-ransomware encrypts files and has been spreading through social media platforms such as Web-based instant messaging apps and similar methods. Additionally, newer methods of ransomware infection have been observed. For example, vulnerable Web servers have been used to gain access to an organization’s network.
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It is crucial for organizations to be educated and prepared to prevent or handle a potential compromise. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) offer excellent resources to assist organizations. The recommended steps towards protection include identifying and protecting critical data, early detection of ransomware events, and preparing for response and recovery.
Related Blog Post – “Organizations Struggle Implementing Compliance Requirements, Including NIST & Zero Trust Mandates”
Ransomware Protection and Response Resources
How to Respond and Report a Ransomware Attack to the FBI and IC3
The FBI does not support paying a ransom in response to a ransomware attack. Paying a ransom doesn’t guarantee that you or your organization will get any data back. It also encourages perpetrators to target more victims and offers an incentive for others to get involved in this type of illegal activity.
If you are a victim of ransomware:
Basic Ransomware Prevention and Response Tips
Even without undertaking all of the measures described in this Ransomware Profile, there are some basic preventative steps that an organization can take now to protect against and recover from the ransomware threat. These include:
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The NIST Cybersecurity Framework Functions
The five Cybersecurity Framework Functions used to organize the Categories are:
Ransomware Response Checklist
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) strongly recommends responding to ransomware using the following checklist in a Joint CISA and Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) Ransomware Guide. This information will take you through the response process from detection to containment and eradication. Be sure to move through the first three steps in sequence.
Detection and Analysis
Containment and Eradication
NOTE: Take care to preserve evidence that is highly volatile in nature – or limited in retention – to prevent loss or tampering (e.g., system memory, Windows Security logs, data in firewall log buffers).
Conclusion
One strategy to ensure you extract maximum value – and security protection – from this guidance is to work with a managed services provider to understand where implementing these best practices will be most impactful and cost-effective.
As always, we do not want to make this a commercial for SecureOps but we do want to help you set several expectations for your MSSP to help protect against Ransomware attacks.
To Learn More About How to Defend Against Malware Attacks or If You Have Been Attacked, Please Call Us – as Always, We Are Happy to Help – 1 (888) 982-0678.
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