You are going through a difficult time because a virus has entered your computer and very important files have been deleted. You have lost everything and you feel terrible, of course. You are trying to get back on track and get your business back on its feet. Maybe there are culprits within the company, employees who did the wrong thing during working hours. Or maybe it was your fault, but what’s done is done.
It’s time to look forward and learn some lessons from this embarrassing situation to make sure it doesn’t happen again next time. Depending on what caused your files to be deleted, there are different lessons to be learned.
1. You need to review your computer practices.
Viruses don’t get into a computer “just because”. You have opened an entry door. Many times it has been a fraud or deception, because you opened an e-mail you shouldn’t have opened and downloaded a file you shouldn’t have trusted. This cannot continue in this way.
Every time you browse the Internet, you must adopt a series of security measures to avoid becoming a victim of potential viruses. Also, if you work with Windows it is always a good idea to have an antivirus.
2. You need to make backups as a prevention
Okay, a virus has entered your computer and you have erased practically everything. But the computer is still working, you can reinstall the operating system and start from scratch, even if it is empty. It’s a chore, but it’s not the end of the world. The question is whether or not you back up to the cloud.
When you do backups, at the very least you are assured that whatever has been deleted you are going to be able to recover it. The only problem here would be if someone has violated your privacy and has kept data that may affect you in the future (third party information, passwords, etc.). In such cases, you will have to launch a computer expertise investigation to see where the attack came from.
3. You must inform your employees
Every company computer must be used essentially for company purposes. When someone secretly uses it for personal purposes (downloading movies or programs, accessing pornographic sites, etc.), they are using an asset of your business for exclusive purposes, which can also put the security of that computer and your computer network at great risk.
Therefore, it is not enough for the manager to be responsible for these aspects; it is also necessary to inform each of the people who are going to handle a particular system that they must respect a series of security rules. In addition, of course, to not using working hours for personal matters.
4. You need to review the security of your computer equipment
You don’t really know how much the computer virus may have affected your computer, so it is very important to get professional computer maintenance professionals to clean your computer and remove any debris or security risks from your computer. You should perform a complete cleanup, even if you find that you can still connect to your computer after a certain point.
In addition to taking corrective action, it is very important to prepare your new computer to be ready. Format, or reinstall the operating system, install an effective antivirus and firewall, and take all security measures to prevent anyone from connecting to your computer network.
5. You must switch into cloud backups
For a long time you’ve been thinking that uploading files to the cloud is dangerous. But you’ve just realized that working with in-house computers is just as dangerous, if not more so. The problem is not being in the cloud or working with in-house infrastructure; the problem is the level of security that exists and making good use of IT.
6. You need to focus on your IT maintenance
On many occasions, viruses affect our computer due to vulnerabilities in our operating system, or that the necessary updates have not been installed. This is exactly the same as with physical illnesses; if you are not vaccinated, nor does your body generate the necessary defenses to protect you from an illness, when you suffer from it, it will affect you much more than a person who is already prepared.
Dedicating the necessary budget to computer maintenance will allow you to enjoy much greater security and peace of mind in your business. You will be able to work with peace of mind knowing that everything is in place to prevent computer viruses or any other threat to your security.
Have you seen yourself in this situation? In more than one company it has happened at some time and it is obviously something very unpleasant. We suggest you tell us about your problem through our contact page, or leave us a comment here.