Ransomware Prevention Checklist for 2025
Ransomware attacks cost businesses billions every year, and small-to-midsize businesses are increasingly targeted because they often lack the defenses of larger enterprises. The good news: most ransomware attacks are preventable with the right measures in place.
This checklist covers the essential defenses every SMB should implement. It's not exhaustive, but if you can check every item below, you're significantly reducing your risk profile.
The Checklist
- Deploy EDR (Endpoint Detection & Response) on every device
- Enable MFA on all accounts, especially email and VPN
- Implement automated, immutable backups with offsite copies
- Conduct quarterly phishing simulations and security training
- Maintain a documented incident response plan
- Segment your network to contain lateral movement
- Keep all software patched within 48 hours of critical updates
- Enforce least-privilege access for all user accounts
- Monitor and alert on anomalous authentication activity
- Test your disaster recovery plan at least twice a year
Each of these measures addresses a specific stage in the ransomware kill chain. EDR catches the initial payload. MFA prevents credential theft from leading to account compromise. Immutable backups ensure you can recover without paying a ransom. And incident response planning means your team knows exactly what to do when -- not if -- an attack occurs.
Need help implementing this checklist?
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