When Bots Attack! Safeguarding Against AI Cyber Threats

We had a ransomeware attack on our firm which paralyzed us . What can we do to prevent this from happening. Small firm.

I’m sorry you experienced that. Ransomware can be crippling for a small firm — but it’s preventable with the right layers in place. For most small firms, protection comes down to five essentials: 1. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) on email and all critical systems. 2. Consistent patching of operating systems, firewalls, and third-party apps. 3. Secure remote access (no exposed RDP; use secure VPN or zero-trust solutions). 4. Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR) — traditional antivirus is no longer enough. 5. Proper backups following the 3-2-1 rule, including one offline or immutable copy — and regularly tested restores. Most ransomware starts with phishing or stolen credentials. Layered protection, visibility, and proactive monitoring are what stop it before it spreads. If you’ve already had an incident, I strongly recommend a post-attack review to determine exactly how access was gained and close that gap permanently. For small firms without dedicated security teams, partnering with a cybersecurity-focused MSP/MSSP can make a significant difference. Whether it’s us or another reputable provider, having proactive monitoring, structured security controls, and an incident response plan in place is critical. Prevention is far less expensive than recovery.