Ransomware attacks have become one of the most prevalent and damaging cyberthreats facing businesses today. They can come in seemingly innocent packages, yet, when opened, lead to severe operational disruption, financial losses and reputational damage. Avoiding such disasters comes from careful understanding and proactive defenses.
The importance of ransomware protection
As of 2025, 62.6% of businesses worldwide have experienced a ransomware attack, making it one of the most prevalent threats to companies and organizations globally.
Ransomware literally holds company files hostage, with criminals typically demanding between $30,000 and $100,000 to return the affected data. Aside from the literal ransom, these attacks lead to downtime, lost revenue and shattered client relationships.
Small to medium-sized enterprises are especially vulnerable, as many lack the resources to launch large-scale cybersecurity efforts.
8 proactive defense strategies against ransomware
To defend your business effectively, you need a comprehensive strategy that covers your software systems, processes and people. Consider these strategies to minimize the chances of an attack affecting your data:
Regular data backups ensure that, in the event of a ransomware attack, you can recover immediately without having to pay the ransom. You can update your security system, plug in your backups and get back to work.
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Update all systems and software
Software providers often release regular updates to improve functionality and security. Keeping up with these releases helps protect your systems from the latest threats. Ransomware and viruses evolve, and so should your systems.
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Ensure network segmentation
As the name suggests, network segmentation divides your entire network into smaller and more manageable segments. These boundaries can limit the spread of ransomware and other attacks. If one segment experiences a breach, additional parts of the network can still stay safe.
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Implement access controls
Access controls are another way to limit potential damage from ransomware. They help ensure that people can access only the minimum amount of information or files necessary to perform their job. With limited access, you can contain breaches more easily.
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Install antivirus software and firewalls
Comprehensive antivirus software and firewalls create an additional layer of protection for your networks and devices. Antivirus software helps detect and respond to incoming or existing threats. Firewalls are essential for filtering and blocking suspicious or unauthorized activity.
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Run regular security testing
Regular testing keeps you up to date on your security posture as technologies and threats evolve. You can work with third-party testers to gain an objective view of your current security measures and identify ways to improve them further.
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Conduct cybersecurity training
Many ransomware attacks originate from seemingly harmless sources like phishing emails and malicious downloads. Regular cybersecurity training keeps management and staff informed and enables them to detect these attacks, thereby minimizing the risk of breaches through human error.
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Set up an incident response plan
Creating an incident response plan is crucial for staying prepared and minimizing the impact of a potential breach. It should outline the necessary steps, key roles and responsibilities that your organization should follow during a ransomware attack.
Responding to a ransomware attack
Regardless of how airtight your ransomware defenses may seem, the risk of a breach still exists. These tips can help you organize your response and effectively contain a ransomware threat:
- Isolate affected systems: Disconnect and isolate any affected systems or devices. This step prevents the infection from worsening and potentially affecting the entire business.
- Secure backups: Attackers might want to target your backups. Make sure to keep these files offline and in a secure — possibly different — physical location. Do not access or use the files until you resolve the ransomware threat.
- Disable maintenance: Automated maintenance tasks, such as temporary file deletions, may remove essential information that could indicate the origin of the attack.
- Identify the variant: Identify the type of ransomware that reached your system. Each infection is unique, and knowing what affected your data can help your recovery. Once identified, you can contain the infection and eradicate it from your systems.
- Begin recovery: With the ransomware removed, you can start rebuilding your system using your backups. Make sure to document and collect relevant logs, suspicious IP addresses and other details that might identify the attacker.
- Report the incident: The government encourages businesses to report every ransomware incident to law enforcement, including the FBI, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the U.S. Secret Service.
Leverage a multilayered approach
Ransomware presents a significant financial and operational threat to businesses of all sizes. Keeping your operation safe from these attacks requires a proactive approach. With strong defenses and an airtight response plan, you can protect your company, employees and customers from evolving threats.
