Picture this: You sit down at your desk, coffee in hand, ready to start your day—only to find that every file, invoice, and customer record is locked, and a nice little ransom note is demanding Bitcoin for their safe return. No, this isn’t a scene from a bad hacker movie. It’s ransomware, and it’s one of the fastest-growing threats to small businesses like yours.

And before you say, “But we’re too small to be a target!”—think again. Cybercriminals love small businesses because they tend to have weaker defenses, making them easy pickings. The good news? You don’t have to be the low-hanging fruit. Here’s how to build resilience against ransomware and keep your business safe.

Step 1: Back It Up Like Your Business Depends On It (Because It Does)

If ransomware locks up your data, the fastest way to tell criminals to take a hike is to restore everything from a secure, offsite backup. But here’s the catch—backups are useless if:

• They’re stored on the same network as your main files (hackers will lock those up, too).
• They haven’t been tested.
• They don’t exist.

Follow the 3-2-1 backup rule: 3 copies of your data, on 2 different media types, with 1 stored offsite and offline.

Step 2: Train Your Team to Spot the Bait

Ransomware almost always starts with someone clicking something they shouldn’t. A shady email attachment, a fake invoice, a too-good-to-be-true deal—hackers know how to trick people. Teach your employees:

• If it’s urgent, unexpected, or just feels off—pause.
• Verify requests for sensitive data or payments directly.
• If in doubt, don’t click.

And yes, cybersecurity awareness training is a must. We recommend awareness training that is delivered in small 5ish minute intervals consistently watched over time.  For more on awareness training, Download ‘7 Cybersecurity Employee Awareness Tips’

Step 3: Lock Down Your Systems Like Fort Knox

Hackers don’t always break in—they log in. And if your passwords are weak, they’re practically rolling out the red carpet. Strengthen your ransomware defense with:

• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)—Even if your password gets stolen, MFA blocks unauthorized access.
• Least privilege access—Your intern doesn’t need admin rights.
• Have your internal IT lead or MSP partner with a cybersecurity expert to ensure your technology strategy is in synch with your cybersecurity strategy.

Step 4: Have an Incident Response Plan

No one wants to deal with a ransomware attack but pretending it won’t happen is wishful thinking. You need an Incident Response Plan—one that, among other things, answers:

• Who do we call first? (Is that IT, legal, your cyber insurance company, or your cybersecurity experts?)
• How do we communicate with employees and customers?
• Do we pay the Ransome? What are our criteria?

Test this plan before you need it. Future-you will thank you.

For more on creating an Incident Response Strategy, Watch ‘A (Cyber) Preppers Guide to Incident Response’

Step 5: Don’t Go It Alone

You wouldn’t DIY your own rocket to the moon—so why try to manage ransomware protection solo? Partner with cybersecurity experts who specialize in keeping small businesses safe. We monitor threats, lock down vulnerabilities, and have your back when things go sideways.

Because in today’s cyber world, it’s not if you’ll be targeted—it’s when. The question is: Will you be ready?

Learn how to build a cybersecurity strategy that fits your business mission, Talk to Us Today