Best Practices to Combat Ransomware

Technological progress has delivered tremendous benefits—but also increased cyber risks. Among the most dangerous of these is ransomware: cyberattacks where criminals encrypt sensitive data or personally identifiable information, blocking access until a ransom is paid.

Ransomware incidents have surged in recent years, causing significant financial and operational harm to businesses of all sizes. The good news? Proactive defenses can greatly reduce your risk. Here are the most effective best practices to protect your systems and data:

1. Back Up Your Data Regularly

Back up your data daily using secure methods like external hard drives or cloud services. Follow the 3-2-1 backup rule: maintain three copies of your data, on two different storage types, with one copy offline.

In the event of an attack, you’ll be able to wipe affected systems clean and restore from backups—minimizing downtime and loss.

2. Keep Systems and Software Updated

Always update your operating systems, browsers, antivirus, and business software to the latest versions. Cybercriminals constantly exploit known vulnerabilities; patches and updates close these gaps and strengthen your defenses.

3. Deploy Antivirus & Configure Firewalls

Use advanced antivirus and anti-malware solutions to detect and remove internal threats. But don’t stop there—configure firewalls to serve as your first line of defense, blocking malicious traffic before it enters your network.

Watch out for fake virus alerts, especially through emails or pop-ups. Ignore suspicious warnings and run virus scans directly from your trusted antivirus software.

4. Segment Your Network

Divide your network into isolated segments to limit the spread of ransomware if a breach occurs. Each segment should have its own firewalls, security controls, and access permissions—preventing one compromised system from bringing down your entire network.

5. Protect Against Email Threats

Email phishing remains the leading cause of ransomware infections. Train your teams never to open suspicious attachments or links from unknown senders. Keep email apps updated and deploy spam filters to block harmful messages before they reach inboxes.

6. Whitelist Approved Applications

Use application whitelisting tools, like Windows AppLocker, to control which applications and websites are allowed to run on your network. Anything unapproved is automatically blocked—preventing unauthorized software from being installed.

7. Strengthen Endpoint Security

As businesses grow, so do the number of devices (laptops, smartphones, servers) connected to their networks. Secure every endpoint with Endpoint Protection Platforms (EPP) or Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions that allow IT teams to monitor and manage device security.

Implement a zero-trust model, limiting user access to only the data they need. This reduces the risk of ransomware spreading between systems and minimizes insider threats.

8. Run Regular Security Testing

Ransomware tactics evolve constantly. Conduct frequent security assessments, vulnerability scans, and sandbox testing of malicious code in isolated environments. Reevaluate user privileges, access points, and update your security protocols as new vulnerabilities emerge.

9. Provide Security Awareness Training

Employees are often the first—and weakest—line of defense. Regularly train staff to recognize and avoid ransomware tactics. The right education empowers your people to detect threats early and act responsibly.

Stay Proactive, Stay Protected

Ransomware will continue to evolve, but by applying these best practices, your organization can stay one step ahead. Proactive defense frees your teams to focus on innovation and growth—instead of recovery and ransom payments.