By now, anyone who has turned on a TV or opened a newspaper in the recent days has likely heard of the large-scale security onslaught known as WannaCry ransomware. In the unlikely event that you have been living under a rock since May 12, listen up. WannaCry is a global ransomware attack (a targeted exploit where data is stolen, encrypted, and held for ransom) – and it’s spreading like wildfire, with more than 300,000 infections cited so far (we believe that number is likely underestimated significantly).
Unfortunately, WannaCry is only the most recent example of a new wave of modern cyber exploits, and we can be certain it is not the first, nor will it be the last attack of its kind. Why? Because it works. Last year alone, the FBI indicated that ransomware criminals were on pace to eclipse the $1 billion mark in illegal revenue for 2016. This villainous ‘industry’ of modern cyber exploitation is evolving daily, so it has never been more imperative than now for companies to develop a comprehensive and proactive approach to bolstering their security posture against the new era of threats.
In order to take appropriate steps in being able to mitigate advanced malware exploits such as WannaCry, I’ve outlined 5 basic questions below that every company should be asking their IT Director.