In our digitally connected world, it has become easier than ever to conduct business. However, the connections people create among themselves and organizations online have also created a profitable environment for hackers who want to steal money, data, and disrupt business leaving business owners to wonder, how can Managed IT Services protect my company from VPN hacks & ransomware attacks? As technology continues to advance it is safe to say that threats from hackers will continue to grow hand-in-hand.
In recent years, hackers have been focusing on businesses and large organizations to maximize their profit potential. Last year, in just a single quarter, Maersk reported a $300M loss due to hacks and the costs associated. Of course, they are not the only business to be affected. Some companies may be unwilling to share details of hacks, which makes estimating the true scope of these hacks nearly impossible. Businesses of all sizes across all industries need to be wary of growing digital threats.
What Are Ransomware Attacks and VPN Hacks?
Both ransomware attacks and VPN hacks have become much more popular in recent years. These hacks are growing more and more sophisticated with each passing day. In fact, nearly 1 million new types of malware are released online every single day. Keeping up with hackers is a constant, ongoing battle.
Ransomware is, as the name suggests, a type of malware that requests a ransom. Of course, in order to demand a ransom, the hacker must have a hostage. In this case, the hostage is your valuable data that could include employee files, sales contracts, customer data, and more. Most ransomware attacks encrypt data and give victims a limited window of time to pay the ransom or lose their data forever. Typically, ransoms are paid in the form of hard-to-trace cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Monero.
VPN hacks are much more sophisticated hacks usually carried out by large organizations rather than small hacker groups or individuals. Using a virtual private network (VPN) to protect your information is a great online security practice. However, a VPN is only as good as the security behind it. Using outdated protocols or simple security keys can make it easier for cybercriminals to access a VPN and the information or devices on the network.
The Best Offense is a Good Defense
No business is immune to hacking attempts. The question for business owners and managers should not be “if” a hacking attempt will be made but, rather, “when.” To be prepared for ransomware attacks and VPN hacks, prevention is key.
This is where managed IT services can make a world of difference. Caring for an entire company’s IT services is no small task. There are day-to-day maintenance activities as well as security patches, updates, and other preventative activities that need to be done. In many companies, these tasks are simply too much for a single salaried staff member. One missed update or patch could spell disaster as it is essentially an open door for hackers to walk through.
In addition to preventing against existing attacks, an IT service provider must constantly be learning and research to stay ahead of emerging threats. If all of this sounds like a lot for one person to take on, that’s because it is a lot for one person to take on. Instead, working with an entire team dedicated to IT services and protection against online threats means there are more hands on deck. Think about it this way: if you were going to move to a new house, would you try to move all of your furniture yourself or would you ask a few friends to come by and help?
Get Constant, 24-Hour Protection
When you are settling down for a night of rest, hackers on the other side of the world may just be starting their day. One of the main advantages of choosing managed IT services is that the team is available at a centralized help desk whenever a problem may arise.
On the other hand, a salaried IT employee can only work so many hours. They need rest, vacation time, and time with their family. It is simply unrealistic to expect a single person to always be available when a problem may come up.
Should the worst occur and you need to restore services from a backup, managed IT services can begin work immediately and reduce total downtime. This is a level of responsiveness you simply cannot expect from in-house staff.
Protect Your Business with Managed IT Services
RJ Young has been providing managed IT services to small and enterprise-level businesses for over 25 years. Their experience, professionalism, and dedication are essential for new and emerging threats.
Want to learn more about how managed IT services can protect against attacks on your business? Contact RJ Young today.