The threat of ransomware has continued to grow and has become a major concern of US Companies. Unfortunately, no organization is immune from these attacks.

Cyber threats are increasing, but few are growing as rapidly as ransomware attacks. Part of the reason is that it’s relatively easy to infect large networks with ransomware. Conducting these attacks is inexpensive, thanks to a wealth of ready-made options on the underground market. However, the biggest reason ransomware is so prevalent is because it’s profitable.

Ransomware pays direct dividends for the perpetrators. The overall amount paid out in just the first three months of 2016 totaled $209 million, a figure that was expected to top $1 billion by year’s end. The relative low-risk and high-reward nature of ransomware almost guarantee that these attacks will continue to grow in both frequency and severity.

Today’s ransomware landscape has no one-size-fits-all strategy that can sufficiently guard against it. The broadest solution available is to rely on cloud- and network-based security and cloud-based storage to back up data and systems.

Cloud and network-based security keep threats away from the perimeter of the extensive area network. This makes it much easier to detect, deflect, and destroy ransomware attacks far beyond the extended network’s edge before they seize control. These security strategies offer a more flexible, agile, adaptive way to update your security protocols. With the features cloud-based security offers, you can edit solutions centrally and gain more visibility into threatening activities.

Cloud-based storage provides a second layer of protection. If hackers successfully breach your network’s defenses, then using cloud storage neutralizes the adverse effects of a ransomware attack. If you have your whole system backed up, the ploy won’t affect your organization, and you won’t need to worry about paying ransom to criminals. Cloud-based storage won’t protect your network, but it can be a failsafe. Consider it cloud-based insurance.

SAFEGUARDING THE FUTURE WITH CLOUD SOLUTIONS

The cloud is the only platform with the agility to respond to evolutions in ransomware. The purpose of these attacks won’t change, but the delivery methods certainly will. Because cloud environments offer scalable and flexible resources, and machine-learning, they allow enterprises to keep up with changes in the threat landscape reliably. Particularly sensitive industries like healthcare, retail, and finance can leverage the cloud by partnering with security providers who offer cutting-edge portfolios of security services.

Here are three ways to implement a multilayered, cloud-based, failsafe approach to your organization’s network security.

•  Leverage Advanced Security Features In the Cloud

Security protections are layered over the cloud and exceed the capabilities of almost every private enterprise’s infrastructure. They combine sophisticated access controls and advanced encryption technologies with expansive capabilities for testing security and vulnerability. Many of these security features also provide necessary levels of protection against distributed denial of service attacks.

•  Execute Expansive User Education and Training

Ransomware protection is not complete without addressing the human element. Users must be aware of and understand the threat of ransomware and the risks their actions create. Everyone needs to have a healthy sense of urgency. Stress that the cost of cybercrime is expected to reach $2.1 trillion by 2019. Augment that knowledge with education and training to familiarize all users with best practices and updated security guidelines for individuals.

There is good news in the face of these increasing ransomware attacks. Cloud-based security and storage can protect your network from the evolving threats of today and tomorrow.

Alto9 is a Cloud solutions firm created to help customers migrate to, and make the most of Amazon Web Services. Cloud computing is a rapidly changing paradigm that requires a specialized focus, and our Amazon Certified engineers have the depth of experience and know-how to make sure your Cloud infrastructure runs efficiently, securely, and scales with you as your business grows.

• Rely on Robust Disaster-Recovery Capabilities

The cloud will always have more reliability and resiliency built-in than the average data center. Thanks to expansive storage capabilities and streamlined failover processes, the cloud is becoming the preferred platform for backup recovery. An approach that relies on multiple clouds and provides extensive levels of protection without creating high cost or management complexity.