Glossary What is Ransomware?

Ransomware is malware that purposefully encrypts the files and systems on a device, rendering them inaccessible to the user. Attackers then demand payment from the user, also known as a ransom, generally in the form of cryptocurrency, in order to decrypt the assets.

Because of the increasing use of ransomware and other cyberattacks, cybersecurity is crucial for organizations to safeguard their data, users and devices. In order to provide the right level of protection for an organization’s needs, a cybersecurity provider or IT team will conduct an assessment and develop a protection strategy to identify and mitigate security risks before a cyberattack occurs.

Cybersecurity has several key areas of focus:

• Security roles and access controls
• Data collection and storage security
• Policies and recommendations
• Identity and Access Management
• Ongoing security monitoring

Learn more about ransomware