A ransomware attack should be thought of as digital extortion. It’s fast-moving, invasive and financially driven.
You’re One Click Away
It’s Monday morning. You log into your computer, only to find your network locked and your data encrypted. Suddenly, a pop-up notification appears on your screen, demanding payment or your files will be leaked, damaged or lost forever.
Sounds like a nightmare? Welcome to the world of ransomware — where business interruptions, financial losses and brand damage are just a click away.
What Exactly Is Ransomware?
What is ransomware? Simply put, it’s a form of malware that encrypts or blocks access to your digital files and systems, holding them hostage until a ransom is paid.
A ransomware attack should be thought of as digital extortion. It’s fast-moving, invasive and financially driven. It’s one of today’s most pressing cybersecurity threats and it’s evolving fast.
An attack can include:
- Encrypting your data so you can’t use it.
- Stealing your data and threatening to leak it.
- Targeting your clients, vendors or employees to maximize pressure.
For bad actors, holding your data hostage can be a business strategy or even a political goal, but for organizations and governments it’s a full-scale crisis. Modern versions are more aggressive and often include double or even triple extortion.
How Ransomware Attacks Happen
An attack often begins with a small misstep. A single employee clicks a phishing link, or a system update gets delayed. Attackers exploit any vulnerabilities to infiltrate your network. Once a bad actor is in, the real damage can begin — causing lost revenue, reputational fallout, high costs and operational shutdowns.
Understanding the stages of a ransomware attack can help your team recognize early warning signs and act fast. Knowing how to prevent ransomware at each stage is key to minimizing exposure.
Common entry points:
- Phishing emails with malicious attachments or links.
- Weak or exposed remote desktop protocols (RDP).
- Unpatched or outdated systems.
- Malicious software disguised as legitimate downloads.
Responding to a Ransomware Attack
In the event of an attack, deciding how to approach a ransom demand means weighing the value of your data, legal and ethical concerns, PR fallout and insurance coverage. The FBI recommends against paying ransom demands, but what should you do?
The first step in any ransomware crisis should be to connect with your cyber liability insurance partner, legal advisors and the rest of your company’s incident response team. (Don’t have an incident response protocol yet? We can help.)
Ultimately, the right security and incident response plan is key to reducing the risk of this extortion in the first place.
Organizations looking to understand how to prevent ransomware lockouts must take a layered approach to security, starting with smarter email habits, secure password use and ongoing cybersecurity training.
Five Tips to Stay Safe
1. Secure your backups.
Make sure backups are encrypted, stored off-site or in the cloud, and tested frequently. If an attack happens, this could be your fastest path to recovery.
2. Use multifactor authentication (MFA).
Even if attackers steal passwords, MFA blocks access to your systems.
3. Segment your network.
Limit how far the damage can spread by restricting access between critical systems and departments.
4. Train your team regularly.
Cybersecurity awareness is your first defense. Teach employees how to avoid ransomware by recognizing phishing attempts and suspicious links.
5. Keep systems updated
Many ransomware attacks exploit known software flaws. Stay ahead by patching regularly and using updated antivirus tools.
If you don’t know how to prevent ransomware, these foundational practices are the best place to start.
Why NFP?
At NFP, we’re your partner in protection. By conducting cyber risk assessments, designing tailored cyber insurance solutions and creating incident response plans, we ensure you are equipped to face a ransomware attack and respond confidently.
Contact us today to learn how to prevent ransomware and protect what matters most.
