What Is Ransomware and How to Protect Your Company

Understanding Ransomware: The Threat That Can Shut Down Your Business

Ransomware is a type of malicious software designed to block access to a computer system or encrypt its data until a sum of money — a ransom — is paid to the attacker. Once ransomware infiltrates a network, it rapidly encrypts files using strong cryptographic algorithms, rendering documents, databases, and entire servers completely unusable. Victims are then presented with a ransom note demanding payment, typically in cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin, in exchange for a decryption key.

Modern ransomware variants often employ double extortion tactics: attackers not only encrypt data but also exfiltrate sensitive information and threaten to publish it online if the ransom is not paid. This puts organizations under enormous pressure, as a refusal to pay can lead to both operational paralysis and a devastating data breach. Some threat groups have even moved to triple extortion, adding distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks or contacting the victim's customers directly to increase leverage.

How Ransomware Gets In: Common Attack Vectors

Understanding how ransomware enters an organization is the first step toward preventing it. The most common attack vectors include:

Phishing emails remain the number-one delivery mechanism. Attackers craft convincing messages that trick employees into clicking malicious links or opening infected attachments. A single click from an unsuspecting user can trigger the entire encryption chain across the corporate network.

Exposed Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) services are another favorite target. When RDP ports are open to the internet with weak or reused credentials, attackers can brute-force their way in and deploy ransomware manually, often during off-hours when no one is watching.

Unpatched software vulnerabilities in operating systems, VPN appliances, and web-facing applications provide yet another entry point. Exploit kits scan the internet for known flaws and automatically deliver payloads to vulnerable systems. Supply-chain attacks — where legitimate software updates are compromised — have also become an increasingly dangerous vector.

The Real-World Impact and Cost of Ransomware

The financial toll of ransomware is staggering. According to industry reports, the average cost of a ransomware incident — including downtime, recovery, legal fees, and reputational damage — now exceeds $4.5 million. Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are disproportionately affected because they often lack dedicated security teams and mature incident-response plans.

Beyond direct costs, companies face prolonged operational downtime. The average recovery time after an attack is measured in weeks, not days. During this period, employees cannot access critical systems, customer orders stall, and revenue generation grinds to a halt. There are also regulatory consequences: under frameworks like GDPR, a ransomware-related data breach can trigger mandatory notifications and significant fines. The reputational damage can linger for years, eroding customer trust and competitive advantage.

Practical Steps to Protect Your Company

No single measure can eliminate ransomware risk entirely, but a layered defense strategy dramatically reduces your exposure. Here are the essential steps every organization should implement:

Maintain reliable, tested backups. Follow the 3-2-1 rule: keep at least three copies of your data on two different media types, with one copy stored offsite or in an immutable cloud repository. Critically, test your restore process regularly. A backup you cannot restore is no backup at all.

Patch and update relentlessly. Establish a rigorous vulnerability management program that prioritizes critical patches for internet-facing systems. Automate updates where possible and monitor for zero-day advisories relevant to your technology stack.

Invest in employee security awareness training. Your workforce is both your greatest vulnerability and your first line of defense. Conduct regular phishing simulations, teach employees to recognize social-engineering tactics, and create a culture where reporting suspicious messages is encouraged rather than punished.

Enforce strong access controls. Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) on every account, especially for remote access and privileged accounts. Apply the principle of least privilege so that a compromised account cannot reach the most sensitive parts of your network. Segment your network to contain lateral movement.

Deploy advanced endpoint detection and response. Traditional antivirus is no longer sufficient. Modern XDR (Extended Detection and Response) platforms correlate telemetry across endpoints, networks, email, and cloud workloads to identify suspicious behavior — such as mass file encryption or unusual lateral movement — before damage is done. Continuous 24/7 monitoring ensures that threats are caught even outside business hours.

How Prootego Detects and Stops Ransomware

At Prootego, we specialize in protecting businesses from ransomware and other advanced cyber threats. Our managed XDR platform provides continuous visibility across your entire IT environment — endpoints, servers, cloud infrastructure, and network traffic. Powered by AI-driven analytics, Prootego identifies early indicators of compromise such as suspicious process chains, unauthorized encryption activity, and anomalous credential usage.

When a potential ransomware attack is detected, our security operations center (SOC) responds in real time — isolating affected endpoints, blocking malicious communication channels, and initiating remediation procedures before the threat can spread. We combine automated response playbooks with expert human analysis to ensure that every alert is investigated and every incident is contained swiftly.

In addition, Prootego helps organizations strengthen their security posture proactively. We perform vulnerability assessments, configuration audits, and security awareness programs tailored to your industry. Our goal is not just to react to attacks but to prevent them from succeeding in the first place.

Take Action Before It's Too Late

Ransomware is not a matter of if but when. The organizations that survive are the ones that prepare. Don't wait until your files are locked and your operations are paralyzed. Book a free demo with Prootego today and discover how our managed cybersecurity platform can keep your company safe from ransomware and other evolving threats.