How to Prevent a Ransomware Attack on Your Business with Sophos

During 2024, more than half of all companies suffered ransomware attacks. Many thought they were prepared—until they tried to recover their data and realized their backups were useless.

The truth is this threat keeps evolving, and facing it without a real plan is getting more and more costly. The good news is that you can prevent, contain, and recover from an attack—but you need a solid strategy, effective technology, and reliable backups.

Would your infrastructure withstand a ransomware attack? If you can’t confidently say “yes,” then this guide is exactly what you need.

Prevention: Much More Than Just Having an Antivirus Installed

If you're still relying solely on a traditional antivirus, you're already a step behind. Today's attacks are faster, quieter, and more sophisticated than ever. What you need now is real protection—something that can anticipate, detect, and act within seconds.

That’s exactly what Sophos Intercept X does. It’s an all-in-one platform that combines artificial intelligence, complete visibility, and automated response to stop ransomware before it can cause damage.

What Makes the Sophos Solution So Effective?

1. Deep Learning: Detects new or unknown ransomware before it makes its first move.

2. CryptoGuard: If something does manage to encrypt your files, this feature rolls them back in seconds without losing information.

3. Exploit Protection: Over 60 active rules block attacks that try to exploit unpatched vulnerabilities.

4. Integrated EDR and XDR: Monitor everything happening in your network with real-time visibility and response capabilities.

5. Sophos MDR (Managed Detection & Response): A real team of experts covers you 24/7—already included in the service.

Important Fact: In real-world tests, Sophos has been able to detect and stop ransomware attacks in over 90% of cases—even before encryption begins (source: SophosLabs).

The difference isn’t just having one more piece of software. It’s having a solution that gives you time to react before the damage is done. And today, that’s worth its weight in gold.

Read more: What is Sophos Endpoint Protection?

Data Backup: Your Last Line of Defense Needs to Be Truly Reliable

Would your backups really save you if you suffered a ransomware attack tomorrow? Over 50% of attackers go straight for your backups. If they get compromised, forget about restoring—your only option will be to negotiate… and pay. It’s that simple.

What Does a Ransomware-Proof Backup Need?

For a backup to be useful in a real crisis, it needs more than just “being in the cloud” or “running daily copies.” Here’s what really matters:

1. True Immutability: Backups must be protected from being modified, deleted, or encrypted from within your network.

2. Distributed Copies (Local + Cloud): Segmented, with multi-factor authentication (MFA), and out of reach of compromised credentials.

3. Proven Restoration: Making backups is useless if you don’t know how to quickly restore a server, database, or critical system.

4. Automated Orchestration: Minimizes human error during recovery—when every minute counts.

Read more: Encrypted Backups: What Are They and Why Are They Important?

Real Preparation Starts Before the Attack

Many companies fall into the trap of thinking that having antivirus software and backups equals having a plan. But what isn’t tested simply doesn’t work—and ransomware doesn’t give second chances. What you need is a complete strategy that combines prevention, rapid response, and validated recovery.

What Should a Recovery Plan Include?

1. Network Segmentation and Automated Response Rules: Automatically isolate any compromised device to prevent the attack from spreading.

2. Documented Recovery Drills: Performed at least every six months. If it’s not tested, it won’t work.

3. Strict Exclusion Policies: No casual whitelisting just because someone can’t access the boss’s Excel file.

4. Integrated XDR + MDR: Full visibility and managed response in minutes—not hours. Because time is everything.

The real impact of being prepared:

1. Companies with an active recovery plan have reduced average downtime from 21 days to less than 3.

2. 94% of attackers attempt to delete or disable backups during an attack.

3. But only 50% succeed… when those backups are properly protected.

(Source: Sophos – State of Ransomware 2024)

A strong backup architecture isn’t optional. It can mean the difference between restoring operations in hours—or paying millions for something you should’ve secured from the start.

If there’s one part of your cybersecurity strategy that must work when everything else fails… it’s this one.

How Can TecnetOne Help You?

At TecnetOne, we’re a certified Sophos partner and business backup specialists. We focus on helping you prevent attacks, detect them in time, and recover quickly if something goes wrong. We design complete cybersecurity solutions tailored to your environment—with validated backups—so you don’t have to cross your fingers in the event of an attack.

What Sets TecnetOne Apart?

1. We Integrate Sophos Intercept X, XDR, and MDR: Combining the best of Sophos technology with custom policies for your network to deliver real-time protection and full visibility.

2. We Design Immutable, Automated, and 100% Validated Backups: Ensuring you can quickly restore servers and databases thanks to real recovery tests performed regularly.

3. We Support You from Start to Finish: From prevention and continuous monitoring to incident containment and full operational recovery.

The difference between paying a multimillion-dollar ransom or staying operational within hours depends on what you do today. Prevention alone isn’t enough anymore. You need a solid strategy that combines technology, visibility, control, and reliable backup. Strengthen your cyber defense with Sophos and TecnetOne.