Cyber attacks, including ransomware, have never been so ubiquitous. No organization, regardless of size or industry, is truly immune to ransomware attacks. While some may have better security measures and faster recovery plans, the threat is pervasive and can impact even the most sophisticated businesses. All organizations should have robust cyber resilience strategies in place, including backup and recovery plans, to mitigate the impact of a potential attack.
According to a 2024 report from TRM Labs, “Ransomware attacks surged dramatically, both in frequency and sophistication.” It further stated, “cybercriminals have increasingly targeted high-value sectors such as critical infrastructure, healthcare, telecommunications, and financial services. To put it in perspective, in July of last year alone we saw 60 publicly disclosed attacks—a 58% increase (from the previous year).”
With such a surge in cyberattacks IT professionals, cybersecurity experts, and business leaders, must face the reality that it is no longer “What if?” but “When will an attack like ransomware happen?”
During our April 2025 11:11 Systems Webinar with Jack Bailey and Laura Shafer, they discussed how to plan for your worst day, the day when you receive the dreaded call that your data and infrastructure are under a ransomware attack! They further discussed in detail what it takes to stay resilient against ransomware and protect mission-critical applications and data.
Here’s a recap of key takeaways and practical insights from the session, plus actionable steps you can take to bolster your cyber resiliency strategy.
“While ‘hope’ may be regarded as a divine virtue in a religious context, it is far from effective as a cybersecurity strategy!”
Why Cyber Resilience Matters
With ransomware continuing to dominate headlines, cyber resilience has become essential for businesses to survive and thrive in an unpredictable digital landscape. Cyber resilience is about more than just preventing attacks. It includes preparing for attacks, mitigating their impact, and ensuring rapid recovery with minimal downtime.
The numbers don’t lie. Cybercrime costs businesses billions of dollars annually. Many companies are forced to pay exorbitant ransoms, only to find that their systems and data are only partially recovered or remain compromised. A lack of proper preparation and recovery strategies leaves companies vulnerable and at the mercy of cybercriminals.
Key Insight: Proactive resilience planning can drastically reduce downtime, financial loss, and reputational damage.
How 11:11 Systems Empowers Cyber Resilience
At 11:11 Systems, we understand the complexity of IT environments and the challenges businesses face when anticipating and responding to cyberattacks. That’s why we designed our resilient cloud platform to address today’s most pressing challenges.
Our platform offers robust managed infrastructure solutions that include secure backups, disaster recovery as a service (DRaaS), and advanced threat detection. These solutions empower businesses to modernize, protect, and simplify IT operations.
Here’s how our platform helps you build unshakable cyber resilience:
- Secure Offsite Backups: Protect your sensitive data with immutable and air-gapped storage.
- Disaster Recovery: Seamlessly restore operations after an incident without compromising critical data access.
- Real-Time Threat Detection: Monitor and respond to threats before they escalate.
4 Practical Steps to Build Cyber Resilience
If you’re wondering where to start, here are four practical steps discussed during the webinar that will help you create a proactive approach to ransomware defense.
- Conduct Regular Backups & Store Them Securely: Ensure data backups are not only frequent but also encrypted, immutable, and stored offsite. This ensures clean recoverable data in case of an attack.
- Deploy a Multi-Layered Defense Strategy – Combine endpoint protection, advanced firewalls, and network controls to create a fortified barrier against intrusions. Investing in robust threat detection systems is critical.
- Educate Employees on Cyber Hygiene – Your team plays a vital role in preventing ransomware attacks. Train employees to recognize phishing scams, avoid suspicious downloads, and follow best practices for password protection.
- Test, Validate, and Refine Recovery Plans – A strong disaster recovery plan (DRP) isn’t enough. Test your plan frequently, simulate attack scenarios, and conduct tabletop exercises to identify and address any gaps.
Emerging Trends in Cyber Threats
During the webinar, we highlighted the increasing sophistication of ransomware attackers. These bad actors are evolving their methods, targeting vulnerabilities in hybrid digital and physical systems. Staying ahead of them requires investment in advanced technology, reliable systems, and proactive strategies.
Pro Tip: Regularly assess your IT environment to ensure your existing infrastructure keeps up with emerging threats.
Take Charge of Your Cyber Resilience
Our webinar attendees gained actionable knowledge and tools during the session. One point resonated with nearly every professional in the room: being proactive is always better than being reactive when it comes to ransomware. If you’re interested in more guidance, you can access the full webinar recording here or schedule a personalized consultation with one of our experts to assess your cyber resiliency gaps.
“While ‘hope’ may be regarded as a divine virtue in a religious context, it is far from effective as a cybersecurity strategy! It’s no longer enough to hope your business won’t be targeted. Building cyber resiliency is the smart, strategic choice to stay competitive and operational—even in the face of a ransomware attack. 11:11 Systems is here to help. With over 40 years of experience and an award-winning resilient cloud platform, we are your trusted partner in fortifying your IT strategy with a variety of tools and managed services to keep your organization protected.
Next Steps:
- Take your free cyber risk assessment here.
- Watch a replay of the April ransomware webinar here.
- Explore 11:11 solutions for cyber resilience to help modernize and protect your IT operations.
