Protecting businesses against cyber threats
RANSOMEWARE threats faced by Malaysian businesses are escalating due to limited resources and technical expertise, say cybersecurity experts. According to Synology Malaysia country manager Jason Sin, the multifaceted nature of ransomware threats, ranging from data breach notification protocols to the appointment of data protection officers (DPOs), are all within Malaysia’s stringent Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) framework.
Ransomware attacks among Malaysian businesses, he said, can result in data loss, financial losses due to ransom payments or downtime, damage to reputation, and potential legal consequences for failing to protect customer data adequately.
“The landscape of data management and security is rapidly evolving, and businesses need to stay ahead of the trend to ensure compliance and protect sensitive information,” he said.
When a ransomware attack happens to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), Sin said having an effective back-up and a streamlined data recovery system helps.
“We introduced Snapshot Replication,
which efficiently streamlines data recovery and provides robust backup capabilities against threats like accidental deletion and viruses.
“This showcases its effectiveness in restoring systems to a previous state and emphasises that only a rapid, comprehensive data solution is effective for enterprises.
“Administrators can configure scheduled snapshots and retention settings, ensuring efficient data management and recovery, even in scenarios where ransomware attacks occur,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sin said SMEs and SMBs grappling with the complexities of data governance and security are urged to prioritise investment in comprehensive cybersecurity measures to safeguard sensitive information and maintain business continuity.
“The readiness of Malaysian SMEs compared with SMBs with ransomware attacks is apparent, with an increase of 30 to 40 per cent last year.
“With ransomware attacks evolving, SMEs and SMBs must remain vigilant in the face of cyber threats.
“Proactive measures such as regular security assessments, employee training programmes and incident response planning must be planned,” he added.