When you hear the words cyber attack, automatically your thoughts shift to data breaches in well-known companies. Don’t be fooled by thinking your small to medium sized field service business is safe. Cyber attacks can happen at any moment to companies of all sizes. Ransomware attacks are on the rise but there are ways to protect your field service company.
Ransomware is a form of malware that threatens to publish private data or make the victims files inaccessible until a payment is received which will unencrypt them. Small businesses can be more vulnerable due to lack of awareness and education about cyber security as the business becomes more reliant on technology. Ransomware is highly profitable for criminals because they can target many small companies in a short period. That is why ransomware has emerged as one of the most serious online threats facing businesses, and the number of attacks has skyrocketed. In fact, a 2017 report from Osterman Research showed that more than one-third of small- or medium-sized businesses around the globe experienced a ransomware attack in the last year.
These attacks can be costly, so now is the time to get smart and protect yourselves before the unexpected intrusion threatens your business. As contractors, you need to focus on not only keeping your customers data safe, but also your own. Being diligent about cyber safety will save your reputation as well as your bottom line. That is why it is imperative for contractors to take the necessary steps to protect themselves from this kind of attack.
PRACTICING PREVENTION
- Ensure that all computers have updated antivirus/anti-ransomware software; Ensure automatic weekly updates are enabled for antivirus/anti-ransomware software as well as for Windows.
- Vulnerable passwords are one entry point of ransom attacks. Enforcing rigorous password protocols with your employees can help ward off intruders.
- Infected web pages, ads and email attachments are also entry points for attackers to gain access to your systems. Train and educate employees on how to spot malicious files. Antivirus software with automatic updates is a necessity when it comes to warding off cyber strikes.
- Back ups are key. If your company does get a ransomware attack, all of your files will be restored from the last back up (maybe off by a few hours). You cannot trust a hacker to decrypt your files, even after they receive a payment so this is another way to stay safe.
By regularly backing up data, training employees to strengthen passwords and delete suspicious emails, installing and regularly updating antivirus and anti-ransomware software, and creating a plan to prepare for an attack, contractors can keep their businesses and their reputations safe and secure.
FIELDBOSS field service software is built within the Microsoft cloud platform, which helps to protect and defend your data from malware, ransomware, and other online threats.
Contact FIELDBOSS to learn more.
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