WannaCry, notorious as the largest ransomware epidemic in history, reached its peak on May 12, 2017. To raise awareness of this ongoing threat, INTERPOL dubbed the 12th of May Anti-Ransomware Day and urged organisations to back up their data and adopt relevant security protections. Failing to take all possible steps to secure a business against a ransomware attack can be a very expensive mistake.
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<p>The most important takeaway for organisations on Anti-Ransomware Day is the awareness and prioritisation of patch management. Four years ago when WannaCry hit, there was a patch available that would have protected organisations from the attack, yet it wasn’t widely implemented. Whether it was lack of resources or awareness, or simply turning a blind eye to a major threat, a lesson was learned that still rings true today: patches need to be applied in a reasonable amount of time. As cyberattacks become more ubiquitous, severe and complex, no business is safe from becoming a victim. Organisations must put the correct security measures into place before it’s too late.</p>
<p>The most important takeaway for organisations on Anti-Ransomware Day is the awareness and prioritisation of patch management. Four years ago when WannaCry hit, there was a patch available that would have protected organisations from the attack, yet it wasn’t widely implemented. Whether it was lack of resources or awareness, or simply turning a blind eye to a major threat, a lesson was learned that still rings true today: patches need to be applied in a reasonable amount of time. As cyberattacks become more ubiquitous, severe and complex, no business is safe from becoming a victim. Organisations must put the correct security measures into place before it’s too late.</p>