Preparing for a Ransomware Attack or Long-Term Power Outage

Recently in the news and on cybersecurity alert sites, there have been reports of increased threats from ransomware attacks and hackers attempting to infiltrate critical infrastructures such as power grids and transportation. The heightened tension with Russia and China has raised awareness of potential cyberattacks. You should ask yourself: What can we do to better prepare our business for a ransomware attack or long-term power outage? An overwhelming number of recent attacks were directed at financial institutions.

So, what can you do to prepare for the worst-case scenario? First, you can use the CSBS Ransomware Self-Assessment Tool (RSAT) to help determine any unmitigated risk you may have. If you cannot check all the RSAT boxes, your focus should shift to find out where your deficiencies are and what you can do to improve. In particular, a few of the questions cover best practices for backing up your data. It is crucial to have the ability to recover data after a ransomware attack. Finally, if a cybercriminal successfully takes down our power grids, how successful would you be in supporting your customer base for days or even weeks without primary electricity? How effectively do you test disaster recovery for an extended power outage?   
 
If you need help answering any of these questions or want to discuss how we can help improve your cybersecurity program, reach out to your BKD Trusted Advisor™ or submit the Contact Us form below.