NHS Crypto Virus – Learn to Protect your Business
By now everyone has heard about the new virus sweeping the NHS encrypting computers and preventing NHS services from running. Hours after the attack the effect is devastating and predictions are this epidemic will last throughout the weekend until Monday.
How can you protect your business from crypto viruses?
As the initial shock wears off, small businesses across the country are wondering if the NHS cant protect itself, how can they?
The answer is simple, and far easier than you might imagine. The problems the NHS face stem from a long term lack of funding and investment in IT infrastructure, old operating systems, poor antivirus and anti malware and finally a lack of insightful training for staff in how to prevent cyber attacks such as this.
Tetrabyte IT Support and services approached our customers a year ago, and provided the options for software and guidance designed to directly prevent this form of attack. We also run multiple layers of security measures by default on all our customers systems to ensure this never troubles.
How to prevent crypto virus outbreaks – The Tetrabyte System
- First and foremost, its free, its easy, it just takes a few mins. Tetrabyte ALWAYS update. Operating Systems, Software, Antivirus and email filtering systems are kept up to date with the latest patches. Manufacturers release updates on a regular basis, Microsoft do so monthly if not more and Tetrabyte policies ensure we always ally updates at the earliest convenience time. The reason these patches are release is because there are known vulnerabilities that hackers and cyber criminals are exploiting to get into peoples computers, to not update is just leaving a door open.
WARNING: SOME I.T. COMPANIES DO NOT APPLY UPDATES – Yes, That’s right, over the last 10 years we have seen many new clients come to us from alternate IT companies, many of these have not performed windows updates on desktops and servers in YEARS! You might ask why, it’s because every time you update you risk something going wrong and more work being created, or because they are simply charging by the hour and haven’t had a request to do so. Tetrabyte provide an unlimited support and we would rather deal with the odd error here and there than have to work though a major virus outbreak such as the NHS face today. UPDATE: Microsoft released an update for this vunerability two months ago. - CryptoPrevention Software, Specifically designed to tackle this form of attack new software is available that picks up where modern anti-virus software is lacking. This is a cost to our customers but many agree its worth while, a simple one time payment of £15 per computer can ensure your protection is up to scratch.
- Security policies, for the customers that choose not to take the software option, we are still able to provide a level of protection through security policies applied to all systems. These target the runtime locations of the software and block this. A virus cant hurt you if it cant run.
- Antivirus, on every workstation, for every customer, for FREE. Tetrabyte don’t compromise on Virus protection, its core to our customers survival and the smooth running of their businesses and our partnership with Avast ensure we protect the file system, web browsing and emails of each and every workstation we support.
UPDATE: Avast confirm all computers protected by avast were protected against Wana Crypto at all times. (Avast Blog) - Backup, backup and backup again, how many times can we re-iterate the importance of having good backup. Tetrabyte offer fully managed off-site backup to all our customers, Unlimited storage and monitored every night. This combined with instant access backups ensure our customers get the fastest and simplest backup services available. With Tetrabyte managing your small business it support and backup you get peace of mind that in the worst situations, your data is SAFE!
- Training and support, our last point moves onto the human element of cyber security, Tetrabyte clients are always advised on cyber security measures whenever the situation allows. This combined with our unique, friendly and approachable support lines, ensure that our customers can pick up the phone, talk immediately to an engineer (calls answered in under 1 min), and get advice. We often receive calls from employees who just want to ask if its OK to click a link or what to do if they already clicked it, we get these calls because we are so easy to talk to and the rapport we build with the staff at our customers creates an environment that staff feel we are approachable for any question. Can you say the same of your IT Support team?
Hopefully anyone reading this will be able to put these measure into place in your own small businesses and ensure that your data stays safe. If your in any doubt, call us on 0330 900 1066 and we can discuss how Tetrabyte can help your business with its IT support solution and prevent crypto virus outbreaks such as currently affects the NHS.
For more information about how Tetrabyte can provide IT Support services to your busineses, call us on 0330 900 1066
