Ransomware readiness means putting the people, processes, and controls in place so that when, not if, a ransomware event occurs, your organization can contain the damage, recover quickly, and meet regulatory obligations with confidence.
Current Ransomware Trends Targeting All Organizations
Ransomware attacks are increasingly leveraging "double" and "triple extortion" tactics, where attackers steal data before encrypting systems and threaten to publicize sensitive information with an eye towards enhancing the payout pressure on victims. Recent reports indicate a dramatic rise in attacks, with small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) experiencing over four times the attack rate compared to larger enterprises.
Despite a slight decrease in attack rates against state and local governments in 2025, the costs associated with recovery have more than doubled due to the complexities of restoring essential services. Law firms are also facing heightened litigation risks as scrutiny increases regarding their protection of sensitive client data.
These entities are attractive targets due to their handling of regulated data, provision of critical services, and in the case of SMB’s limited cybersecurity resources. Ransomware groups exploit the urgency to pay, especially in sectors like healthcare, legal, and public service.
Building Ransomware Resilience: Key Strategies
- Establish a Defense Baseline (if you haven’t already done so): Implement a cybersecurity framework based on NIST, CIS Controls, or ISO 27001 that prioritizes business-critical services and regulated data.
- Secure Backups: Follow a "3-2-1" strategy for backups—three copies of data, on two different media, with one stored offline. Ensure regular recovery testing to define and validate recovery time objectives (RTOs) and recovery point objectives (RPOs)
- Network Segmentation and Access Control: Isolate high-value systems and enforce least-privilege access to limit ransomware spread. Use zero trust principles to verify user and device access.
- Strong Authentication: Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for sensitive accounts, and ensure third-party accounts follow the same security standards.
- Endpoint Protection: Utilize modern endpoint protection and detection tools that monitor suspicious activities and can isolate compromised devices. Integration with incident response teams is vital for effective alert management.
By adopting these strategies, agencies can significantly bolster their defenses against the growing threat of ransomware.
Data Classification and Impact Analysis
Understanding your data is crucial for ransomware readiness. A solid data classification scheme, identifying public, internal, confidential, and regulated data, helps prioritize protection and informs regulatory responses during incidents. Law firms and other professional services must address client confidentiality, cross-border data transfers, and relevant industry regulations. All entities in regulated sectors must align their ransomware scenarios with legal reporting requirements.
Communications and Notification
An effective incident response plan requires a coordinated communication strategy for internal stakeholders, clients, regulators, and law enforcement. Pre-approved templates and decision frameworks enable quick, accurate communication, preserving legal options and preventing premature disclosures. With new regulatory mandates for timely reporting of cyber incidents, rehearsed notification processes in advance are essential to maintain trust during disruptions.
Recovery and Business Continuity Planning
Ransomware plans should be integrated closely with business continuity and disaster recovery strategies. Recovery protocols must outline prioritized system restorations, verification of clean environments, and communication plans for stakeholders. Organizations must ensure their recovery time objectives (RTOs) and recovery point objectives (RPOs) are realistic and factored into a detailed runbook for critical applications.
Coordination with Third Parties
Engaging external partners (such as legal counsel, insurance carriers, and technology vendors) should be clearly outlined in the response plan. Contracts should be reviewed beforehand to confirm clarity in response expectations. Coordination may also involve regulatory bodies and information-sharing organizations. It’s critical for plans to go beyond documentation; they must be regularly tested and updated both pre- and post-incident.
How JANUS Strengthens Ransomware Readiness
JANUS Associates empowers our clients to shift from reactive strategies to proactive ransomware readiness planning that is based on NIST, CIS, ISO 27001, in addition to industry best practices.
JANUS offers tailored ransomware readiness assessments that evaluate existing controls against standardized frameworks, identifying gaps and recommending actionable improvements. For each specific organization, these assessments factor in regulatory and contractual obligations as part of the response and reporting structure.
JANUS also facilitates tailored tabletop exercises that guide leadership, IT, communication, and other relevant teams through industry specific scenarios aligned with the NIST incident response lifecycle, thus enhancing preparedness for ransomware incidents.
Take the next step: Engage JANUS for Ransomware Readiness
Preparing before an attack reduces downtime, mitigates financial and legal exposure, and protects your operations, in addition to the people and communities you serve.
JANUS helps organizations at every stage of ransomware readiness: from initial ransomware readiness assessments to incident response tabletop exercises, to the development and ongoing refinement of ransomware playbooks and supporting procedures.
Strengthen your preparedness and demonstrate a defensible, framework-aligned approach to ransomware risk, by scheduling a ransomware readiness assessment or by planning your next ransomware tabletop exercise with our expert cybersecurity team. Contact us today and find out why over 2,100 clients trust JANUS.
