Ransomware: The Persistent Cyber Threat and How to Combat It | ActZero

Ransomware attacks are a growing concern, especially for schools and small businesses. The latest CrowdStrike 2024 Global Threat Report reveals a staggering 75% year-over-year increase in cloud environment intrusions, showing that ransomware isn’t just sticking around — it's evolving. Schools and districts have been hit particularly hard, with 102 related attacks in 2023, emphasizing the urgent need for effective cybersecurity measures​. 

Why Schools and Small Businesses Are Easy Targets

Ransomware encrypts data, locking it away until a ransom is paid. Schools and small businesses are prime targets because they lack sufficient IT resources and robust defenses. Attackers typically exploit common vulnerabilities like phishing emails, Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) attacks, and cloud misconfigurations​. Smaller organizations often think they’re not at risk, but 82% of ransomware attacks actually target companies with fewer than 1,000 employees​.

One example is Indiana's MSD Martinsville school district. After a neighboring district lost $1 million and thousands of student records in a ransomware attack, they realized their patchwork security solutions left them vulnerable. MSD Martinsville turned to ActZero, whose proactive AI-Driven MDR capabilities helped secure their systems and gave them peace of mind​.

How to Stay One Step Ahead

1. Train Your Staff: Employees are the first line of defense. Training them to recognize phishing attempts and suspicious links can make a huge difference. Our "Cyber Smarts Guide" is a great resource for getting started​.
2. Tighten Access Controls: Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) and restrict access to sensitive information. Disabling unused RDP ports and enforcing strong password policies can also protect your systems​. To strengthen your security posture, learn more in our Ransomware Prevention Guide.
3. Secure Your Cloud: Cloud misconfigurations are a major risk. Properly configuring and monitoring your cloud environment can prevent data breaches. 51% of security professionals identify cloud misconfigurations as a top threat​. Check out our Cloud Security Best Practices Checklist, which walks you through essential steps like configuring Identity Access Management (IAM) policies, securing APIs, and auditing your environment regularly.
4. Monitor and Respond 24/7: Implementing a 24/7 monitoring and response service, like ActZero's MDR, helps catch unusual activity and take care of it early. Having a tested incident response plan is also essential to isolate threats and recover quickly​. MSD Martinsville’s experience with ActZero's MDR showed how autonomous response capabilities can relieve IT teams of constantly having to manually block threats​.
5. Leverage AI Solutions: AI-driven cybersecurity solutions can greatly enhance defenses. Shannon Medical Center, for example, saw a 90% reduction in vulnerabilities within three months after deploying ActZero’s full-stack AI-based solution​.

The FCC Cybersecurity Pilot Program: A Helping Hand

For schools, If budget is a concern, the FCC has launched a $200 million Cybersecurity Pilot Program to provide funding for advanced cybersecurity solutions. Applying is straightforward, but it's competitive, so aligning your application with the FCC's goals is crucial​. Check out our step-by-step guide for How to Apply for the FCC Cybersecurity Pilot Program.

The Bottom Line

Ransomware is evolving rapidly, and it's especially targeting schools and small businesses. The key to staying safe is a proactive strategy. By doing so, you’re not just reacting to threats; you're actively staying one step ahead. In cybersecurity, being informed and vigilant is half the battle.