Remember the news about the Ransomware attacks? A nifty little virus that affected businesses, institutions, and government agencies in over 100 countries left thousands of businesses in a panic, as they rushed to do damage control and try to recover their stolen data. And the name reflected its purpose: These companies were then notified that if they wanted to get their information back, they would have to pay for it. Worst of all? They didn’t have any reassurances that once they forked over the money, the hackers would deliver.
This is a scary thought. Technology has become advanced enough for a couple of techies in a basement to be able to create worldwide havoc. And they are sophisticated enough to infiltrate secure servers, such as the ones that guard government information. What makes this even more worrisome is the knowledge that it will likely happen again. It seems like it’s only a matter of time.
What can you do to protect your business?
While there are certain things you can do to protect your data, such as installing a firewall, anti-spy software, setting up complicated passwords, and regularly updating your software and anti-virus protection, you should always make it a priority to regularly back up your data. What if those backups are corrupted or not restorable? That is a database administrators job to ensure that backups usable. Whether by cloud or local storage, it’s a safety measure you cannot afford to skip.
Also, you should have a database administrator who can constantly monitor your systems to ensure full protection, foresee possible issues, and troubleshoot problems as they arise. It is also essential to properly train your employees about not opening suspect communications and on basic damage mitigation procedures, such as which specific IT personnel to contact should the worst were to occur.
What if my data has already been compromised?
When all else fails, it’s time to conduct data recovery. Whether you lost your data through a virus or natural disaster, Soaring Eagle Consulting is here to help your business get your information back. From database administration to damage control, you can count on us. Contact us and tell us how we can help you.
