Ransomware attacks are on the rise and no organization is safe. Ransomware attackers will eventually be coming for you – are you ready for them?
The key to fending off modern ransomware attacks is to employ modern ransomware detection methods. Read on to learn about the newest and most effective ways to protect your organization from these modern attacks.
Why Ransomware Protection is Essential
The threat of ransomware attacks is real, as is the potential damage they can inflict on your organization. The statistics speak for themselves:
- A ransomware attack occurs every 11 seconds
- The average downtime after a ransomware attack is 21 days
- 60% of companies attacked experienced revenue loss and 53% said their reputations were damaged
Even more concerning is the fact that ransomware attacks are evolving. Attackers are not only encrypting data during their attacks but also exfiltrating sensitive information and threatening to release it to the general public. Ransomware-as-a-service is enabling more groups to carry out ransomware attacks. Attackers are becoming more professional and more prolific and the attacks themselves are becoming more effective – all of which are good reasons to deploy the latest ransomware prevention techniques to identify attacks before they take hold.
Latest Ransomware Detection Methods
With ransomware attacks becoming more common and more dangerous, your organization needs to be able to detect ransomware before it encrypts or exfiltrates your business-critical data. Here are three of the newest and most effective methods for detecting ransomware – before it does serious damage.
Signature-Based Detection
Signature-based ransomware detection identifies ransomware attacks by comparing the signatures of files in your system with signatures of known ransomware. If ransomware is identified you can use anti-malware tools to delete the suspect files – before the malware is activated.
While signature-based detection is an effective defense it is not perfect. In particular, it’s not as effective in identifying new ransomware strains or ransomware that’s been altered to change its detectability.
Behavior-Based Detection
With behavior-based ransomware detection, certain system behaviors are compared against historical data. New or unusual activities are flagged for evaluation of possible ransomware infection.
For example, your IT security teams can look for unusual file system changes, such as a large number of files being renamed over a short period of time. They can also examine API calls for suspicious behaviors, such as overwriting or encrypting files. This approach is considerably more effective in detecting newer forms of malware whose signatures are not yet on file.
Traffic-Based Detection
Another type of behavior-based method detects ransomware based on abnormal traffic patterns in your system. As ransomware needs to connect to off-site servers to receive instructions, send copies of files, and download encryption keys, unusual network traffic can be a notable first sign of infection.
While traffic-based detection is not foolproof and can result in false positives, it’s a good first line of defense and a sign that something fishy might be up.
Which Ransomware Detection Method Should You Use?
When it comes to ransomware detection techniques, which one should your organization employ? The answer is: all of them. While some approaches are more effective than others (behavior-based detection being perhaps the most effective), they all look for different signs of ransomware infection. The stronger and more varied your defense, the more effective it will be against ransomware attack.
Let phx-IT Handle Your Ransomware Detection Needs
Perhaps the best defense against a devastating ransomware attack is to employ the services of a firm dedicated to ransomware prevention and recovery. The professionals at phx-IT are experts at detecting ransomware and can protect your organization while saving you time and money. We provide the peace of mind you need when dealing with today’s evolving ransomware threats.
Contact us today to learn more about our ransomware protection and recovery services.
