Day 7 – Average Cost of a Data Breach | Safeguarding Small Businesses, A Ransomware Prevention Guide

Ransomware, a malicious software designed to block access to a computer system until a sum of money is paid, poses a significant threat to small businesses. An infamous example of ransomware is WannaCry, which in 2017 affected over 200,000 computers across 150 countries, with estimated costs running into billions. This infographic outlines five critical steps for ransomware prevention and mitigation, including asset discovery, software patching, regular data backups, deploying endpoint protection tools, and enhancing cybersecurity toolsets. Understanding and implementing these measures can significantly reduce the risk and potentially devastating average cost of a data breach associated with ransomware attacks.

To effectively combat ransomware, businesses should implement a multi-layered security approach, including:

1. Regularly updating and patching software to close vulnerabilities.
2. Employing advanced endpoint protection with real-time threat detection.
3. Conducting frequent data backups to separate storage solutions, ensuring data can be restored without paying a ransom.
4. Training employees on cybersecurity best practices to recognize phishing attempts and other malicious activities.
5. Utilizing email filtering and anti-phishing tools to block ransomware delivery mechanisms.

These strategies help prevent ransomware infections and ensure business continuity in the event of an attack, lowering the average cost of a data breach.

A Nebraska-based K-12 school district, hosting 42,000 students across 65 schools, navigated from outdated security measures to cutting-edge protection with SentinelOne endpoint protection. The district’s journey began with the realization that its legacy antivirus solution couldn’t combat modern cyber threats, including sophisticated ransomware attacks. The district transitioned to SentinelOne, enhancing its cybersecurity posture with an efficient, modern solution capable of safeguarding 14,000 critical endpoints and over 100,000 diverse devices. The transformation highlights the importance of adaptive security strategies in today’s dynamic cyber threat landscape, demonstrating SentinelOne’s pivotal role in providing comprehensive, easy-to-deploy endpoint protection that meets the evolving needs of educational institutions.