Ransomware is malware that encrypts your files and demands a payment in exchange for the decryption key. Without working backups, you either pay or lose your data.
How a ransomware attack unfolds
Ransomware attacks typically follow a predictable pattern. An attacker gains initial access, usually through a phishing email or a compromised credential. They move quietly through the network, sometimes for weeks or months, identifying valuable data and disabling backup systems. When they are ready, they deploy the ransomware and encrypt everything simultaneously.
Modern ransomware groups also exfiltrate data before encrypting it. This means even if you restore from backups, they still threaten to publish your client data unless you pay. This is called double extortion, and it significantly increases the leverage attackers have.
What it actually costs a small business
The ransom itself is often not the biggest expense. Downtime, incident response costs, recovery labor, legal obligations, and reputational damage frequently exceed the ransom demand. The average total cost of a ransomware incident for a small business is tens of thousands of dollars. Some businesses do not recover.
Cyber insurance helps, but insurers are increasingly requiring proof of specific security controls (MFA, EDR, tested backups) before paying claims. A business that cannot demonstrate these controls may find their claim denied.
How to protect against ransomware
Should you pay the ransom?
Most experts and law enforcement agencies advise against paying. Paying funds criminal organizations, does not guarantee you will get a working decryption key, and marks you as a business willing to pay, which can make you a target again. The better position is to never be in the situation where paying is the only option.
EagleOnyx helps Central Florida businesses build the specific defenses that prevent ransomware from succeeding.
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