The Heritage Company, an Arkansas-based telemarketing agency, has notified its employees that they may lose their jobs after a ransomware attack shut down the business' servers earlier this year, according to KATV. It has temporarily suspended its services and is asking employees to call the company's weather line on January 2 for business updates.
Cybercriminals launched a ransomware attack against The Heritage Company approximately two months ago, CEO Sandra Franecke stated in a letter to employees. They "held us hostage for ransom," Franecke indicated, and forced the company to pay for a key to get its IT systems back up and running.
The Heritage Company is working to bring its systems back and restructure different areas of the business in an attempt to recoup "hundreds of thousands of dollars" in losses, Franecke noted. It also is committed to keeping the company open "if it is in my power to do so," Franecke pointed out.
The FBI has not confirmed or denied if it is conducting an investigation into The Heritage Company ransomware attack, KATV reported. Meanwhile, The Heritage Company employs over 300 workers across three branches.
How to Prepare for a Ransomware Attack
There are many things that organizations can do to guard against ransomware attacks, such as:
- Provide cybersecurity awareness training to educate employees about different types of cyberattacks.
- Develop and implement a business continuity strategy.
- Use multiple security solutions to protect all networks and endpoints.
Furthermore, MSSPs can help organizations combat ransomware attacks and other cyber threats. They can provide endpoint detection and response (EDR), security information and event management (SIEM) and other security offerings, as well as offer tips to help organizations keep pace with evolving cyberattacks.
