You regularly hear in the news about ransomware attacks on businesses or individuals. Whether you know what this entails or not, you’d prefer to simply prevent a ransomware attack—especially if your business handles sensitive data. Cybercriminals can hold your systems hostage using a specific type of software, rendering them unusable. They often demand a ransom to release the system. Both small and large companies face these kinds of attacks, so it’s always good to know how you can protect yourself against them!
What is ransomware?
Research by the British security firm Sophos shows that a ransomware attack costs a company an average of $1.82 million. But what exactly is ransomware? Ransomware is another term for malware, and it refers to malicious software that takes computers and files within the system hostage. Cybercriminals use it to encrypt your system or computers, rendering them unusable. They often threaten not to release the systems until you pay a ransom. And, of course, we’re not talking about a few dozen dollars.
How does ransomware get onto your computer?
There are several ways ransomware can infiltrate your system or computers. People often say that the system has been “infected” with the malware. After all, it is a type of computer virus. You can accidentally download ransomware through links, emails, email attachments, and online ads. Additionally, cybercriminals can launch targeted attacks on a company’s servers to try to get the malicious software into the system. Once the ransomware is inside, it blocks access to the computers, the system, or specific data. This can cause companies to come to a complete standstill.
5 Tips to Protect Your Business Against Ransomware
If your system gets infected with ransomware, it can have a lot of serious consequences for you and your business. Naturally, you want to prevent that at all costs. Below, we’ve listed 5 tips to help you protect your business against ransomware!
1. Back up your data regularly
If you ensure that your systems and data are properly backed up, you’ll be less affected if cybercriminals encrypt your computers. After all, you’ll have all your data and systems stored in an external location. This makes it easy to restore your files and get back to work. Many organizations use this method as a safeguard against cyberattacks.
2. Never wait too long to update
Software vendors are often the target of ransomware attacks. That is why they are constantly searching for vulnerabilities in their software and working to fix them. They implement the improvements they find in the form of updates or patches for the software. The sooner you install updates as a user, the better, because it means you’re less vulnerable to cyberattacks. Companies often tend to delay installing such updates, since they usually require a system restart. This can lead to delays in the production process. Nevertheless, we always recommend that you install updates immediately. After all, a ransomware attack will cost you far more than a 15-minute downtime!
3. Try to minimize human error as much as possible
Ransomware attacks are often the result of human error. For example, cybercriminals try various methods to obtain employees’ login credentials in order to gain easy access to the system. This is why it is crucial that your employees’ accounts are properly secured with more than just a password. For instance, implement MFA throughout the entire organization as an additional layer of security. Also, make sure to keep your employees constantly informed about the tricks cybercriminals might use and test them occasionally if necessary. Companies often do this by sending out a suspicious email and seeing how many employees still click on the link in the email. Providing training on cybersecurity never hurts either 😉
4. Antivirus software doesn't block everything
Many smaller businesses believe they are sufficiently protected if they use antivirus software. Unfortunately, this is far from always the case. If you use a good antivirus program that detects ransomware, you are largely protected, and the risk of infection is lower. However, we always recommend taking additional measures, as antivirus programs unfortunately cannot detect all malicious software. After all, many cybercriminals take this into account when developing malware.
5. Establish a clear protocol
Make sure you have a clear protocol in place for your employees so they know what to do in the event of a cyberattack. This will enable them to respond quickly—for example, by restoring data from external backups or calling a contact person who can assist with the situation!
If you create something and post it online, anyone can see it—and, in theory, copy it. People can apply for patents on inventions, but things like a blog or a song you’ve written yourself are a bit different. That’s where intellectual property comes in: to protect the fruits of the mind. In this blog, we’ll tell you more about what intellectual property is and how it works!
What is intellectual property?
Intellectual property rights protect creations of the mind. That might sound a bit vague, but it basically means that you own the rights to something you’ve created. This can be anything from a story you’ve written to a specific design for a website or app. Unlike a patent or ordinary property rights, intellectual property rights protect intangible assets. If we take a car as an example, intellectual property rights do not protect the car itself, but rather the ideas behind it—such as the car’s design or specific new technologies incorporated into it. Intellectual property rights can even apply to a car’s model name.
What types of intellectual property rights are there?
Intellectual property consists of a number of rights that are governed by various laws and international treaties. Each type has its own requirements for protection, a different scope of protection, and a different term of protection. Below, we will explain the six most common forms of intellectual property: copyright, database rights, know-how, patent rights, trade name rights, and trademark rights.
Copyright
Copyright belongs to the creator of a work; the law refers to this as “a work of literature, science, or art.” In principle, you don’t have to do anything to obtain copyright; you don’t need to apply for the right or anything of the sort. You simply need to be able to demonstrate that a work was created or written by you. For example, copyright in a book arises when it is written, and copyright in a musical composition arises when it is composed. Software is also subject to copyright, of course, and that arises when the code for the software is written. For software, it also does not need to be finished to obtain copyright; even the alpha version is protected by copyright.
Patent law
You can obtain a patent if you invent something that does not yet exist or, at the very least, has not yet been made publicly known anywhere in the world. In addition, it must be the result of an inventive step—in other words, it must be inventive—and it must be capable of being applied, meaning it must actually work. You can apply for a patent at the Patent Office. Generally speaking, you cannot obtain a patent for software.
Database Law
Database rights are also known as extraction rights and are intended for the producer of a database. A database refers to collections that demonstrate a substantial investment. Examples include a collection of keywords in a dictionary or names in a directory on a website. There are no formalities required to obtain this right, so it is comparable to copyright. You don’t have to apply for it like a patent!
Trademark Law
Trademark law applies to signs used to distinguish a company’s products or services. In other words, signs that identify a company, such as a logo, a name, or a word mark. To obtain this right, it is important that the logo or word mark has sufficient distinctiveness. In some cases, trademark rights can also be obtained based on a color, a musical tune, or even a scent. You must apply for trademark rights. You do this through the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property.
Trade Name Law
Trade name law is intended to protect the name under which a business operates. A trade name may be registered with the Chamber of Commerce, but this is not required to qualify for trade name protection. The only requirement for this right is that the trade name be used consistently by a company—not just verbally, but also on stationery, on the website, as a domain name, and so on. In addition, the trade name must also be known to a wider public.
Expertise
The final type of right is know-how. This is sometimes still a somewhat vague concept, but know-how encompasses intangible works that are not, or only minimally, protected by intellectual property rights, yet still hold value. Examples include a mathematical formula, a marketing concept, or the image rights of a well-known person. In practice, we often see people protecting know-how through Non-Disclosure Agreements. A fine is therefore often imposed for breaching these agreements.
When is it essential to have your intellectual property in order?
It’s generally always a good idea to make sure you have your intellectual property rights for your business, product, or service in order, but there are a few situations where this is especially important:
- You want to transfer or sell your intellectual property rights
- You want to sell your business and therefore transfer shares
- You are currently involved in disputes with competitors or other market players regarding IP infringement
- You want to obtain financing or secure a lien
- You want to sign contracts with customers and distributors
1. Fiber optics consume less energy, which is better for the environment
A fiber-optic connection uses less energy than a traditional connection. This is because a fiber-optic network transmits data using light signals. Not only is this extremely fast, but it’s also very environmentally friendly. Fiber-optic internet uses as much as seventeen times less energy than networks that use electrical signals.
2. Underground cables generate less heat
Since fiber optics transmit data using light signals, the cables in the ground generate less heat. Networks that use electrical signals generate more heat, which is transferred to the ground through the cables. Fiber optics therefore have less of a negative impact on the soil and the environment, since the cables emit very little heat. This keeps the soil more fertile, moister, and thus of higher quality, ensuring that nearby grass, plants, and trees are not harmed and continue to receive the same amount of nutrients!
3. Fiber-optic connections emit less radiation
The transmission of data results in the emission of radiation, which unfortunately cannot be avoided at this time. Since the technology behind fiber optics is more environmentally friendly than other types of connections, it also emits less radiation. This is therefore an additional environmental benefit compared to a DSL or cable connection. If everyone were to switch to fiber-optic internet, it would even help combat global warming.
4. Fiber optics result in lower emissions and thus a reduced environmental impact
Fiber-optic cables do not release toxic substances into the soil in which they are buried, nor do they generate much heat. Networks that use copper cables, on the other hand, do release toxic substances into the soil, which is, of course, very harmful to the environment. This is because copper can eventually rust, and rust can cause significant soil contamination. Fiber optic material is not affected by underground conditions and therefore cannot rust, meaning no toxic substances are released that harm the soil.
5. Fiber-optic connections ensure sustainable networks
Fiber-optic networks are much more sustainable and better for the environment than DSL or cable networks. This is because they are more modern networks that require significantly less maintenance. As a result, the ground needs to be dug up less often, and fewer service vehicles need to travel across the country to perform maintenance. In addition, a fiber-optic network is much less prone to outages, which is, of course, a major advantage for consumers.