ROCHESTER HILLS – Are you a business professional or owner in charge of your IT network? Do you like giving money to people that have violated your data, encrypted it, and now offering to sell it back to you for a price? Do you enjoy getting frustrated?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, may I suggest you head over to your local ransomware dealer (probably overseas.)

For those that haven’t had the pleasure of receiving ransomware let me paint a frightening picture.

Scenario: You’ve been doing business a long time. Your Network is a couple years past retirement…but you get by. It has quirks but hasn’t broken down completely. Besides, Susan in HR is married to a guy that “knows computers.” You’re “fine.” Hiring an IT Manager isn’t worth it. You’re complacent. Complacent is good, right?

One morning, Susan is waiting by your office as you come in for the day. She looks embarrassed. She opened what she thought was a funny joke from her cousin in Florida. However, it was Ransomware.

For those unfamiliar with ransomware; It is harmful software that holds your data hostage by encrypting it and withholding the key to unlock it until the money is paid. It is a way for cyber criminals to make an easy and untraceable buck.

The network is at a standstill. There is a warning stating you have to pay $1,200 in two days otherwise your data is lost. You call Susan’s husband. You call a couple of local tech companies. They all advise you follow what the screen advises and wish you an uninspiring, “good luck.” You wait the full two days hoping it would go away but alas, the clock ticks down.

“FINE! I’ll pay!” You spend the money…then…nothing. Absolutely nothing. The clock reads 00:00:00 and your data or the key to unlock it is nowhere to be found. You are out of business.

HERE COME THE JOYS!

EARLY RETIREMENT

You either go to your competition or just call it a career. Although I hear working as a starter at the golf course is a fun part time job.

NO MORE STRESS

With your family and former employees so upset, you’ve finally reached the stage where you simply don’t care anymore.

BRINGING FAMILIES TOGETHER

Mortgages payments aren’t happening anymore so you get to move in with your kids. It’ll be a great opportunity for them to return the favor of letting them live with you for 18 years.

With all due seriousness, waiting for the problem to come to you is not how business works. The break/fix strategy can cause you doom. Getting malware is miserable. In recent months, CloudTech1 has added several clients to our Managed Service Provider umbrella because they never want to go through the destruction and frustration of ransomware again.

CloudTech1 has received an uptick in calls from frustrated business owners and managers that have ransomware installed on their network. Our CloudCare1 Service Package secures your network. If you don’t call us at least educate yourself on the dangers of malware, back up your data, and protect your data. While this article is satire, the effects of malware is serious. It is violating and frustrating. However, it is reckless to undervalue your data.

Want to learn more?

CloudTech1 hosts an event each month that speaks directly to small/medium business owners and decision makers. October is MSP: Smarter, Faster, and More Secure. We offer the perfect environment to educate on how to make your IT network work for you. Click the link and register, call us at 855-6CLOUD-1, or email at [email protected].

Or click on www.cloudtech1.com