Why ransomware is a real threat regardless the industry

What would you do in case of a ransomware attack? This is a question I have heard a lot lately and I wish there was a simpler answer for it. Ransomware attacks have increased in numbers and complexity and spread to organizations of any industry across the globe. As a matter of fact, we need to accept that cyberattacks are more present than ever, and they can affect both our professional and personal lives, unless we prepare — this is the key for staying out of trouble!

One example comes from the education sector: Will Montgomery, director of teaching and learning at Bedford School, was a victim of a virus that encrypted innumerable files from years of teaching experience. In fact, the education sector is one of the favorite victims of ransomware attacks. These institutions are attractive to cybercriminals due to the valuable research data they contain and the vulnerabilities that come from undergoing a digital transformation through their infrastructure, staff and students. With employee records and research data at stake, higher education organizations must take proactive measures to avoid the loss of highly sensitive data, damaged reputation and low productivity.

Ransomware doesn’t discriminate, and education institutions aren’t the only ones affected by cyberterrorism. According to a recent report, 15% of the total global ransomware attacks hit health care institutions in 2016. Health care is well known for the magnitude of these attacks and for the high ransoms demanded, which in many cases were paid! Hospitals and other health care services are very sensitive to losing access to data — patient’s history or treatment tracking are essential for patient care, and their loss could put lives in danger.

Read the entire article here, Why ransomware is a real threat regardless the industry

Via the fine folks at Veeam.