A Guide to Protecting Your Organization from Ransomware: Low-Cost and Effective Strategies

by | Jun 26, 2025 | Disaster Recovery, Healthcare IT Consulting, Healthcare IT Information, Rural Technology

Introduction

At Prestige Technology Systems, a subsidiary of JMF Solutions, we deliver end-to-end technology solutions for hospitals, universities, and mid-market enterprises. Our recent support of a hospital client through a ransomware attack—impacting over 130 servers and 350 computers—revealed the devastating consequences of lacking a strategic cybersecurity approach. This incident, which worsened the hospital’s financial and reputational challenges, underscored the need for proactive measures. Through our partnerships with the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and our innovative services, we connect organizations to free, low-cost, and integrated solutions to prevent such crises.

This guide outlines actionable strategies, including our free BGP Blackhole service, CISA’s continuous scanning, the open-source Wazuh platform, and our cost-effective Fortinet-SentinelOne-Wazuh solution, to protect your organization from ransomware. Our goal is to empower you with tools and knowledge to safeguard your systems, data, and reputation, fostering resilience and trust.

Why Ransomware Is a Growing Threat

Ransomware encrypts data, demanding payment for access, and targets hospitals, universities, and businesses due to their critical systems and sensitive data. Consequences include:

  • Operational Downtime: Disrupted patient care, academic operations, or business processes.
  • Financial Loss: Recovery costs, lost revenue, or ransom payments.
  • Reputational Damage: Loss of trust from patients, students, or customers.
  • Regulatory Risks: Violations of laws like HIPAA or FERPA.

Proactive, cost-effective measures, including free and integrated solutions, can significantly reduce these risks.

Free and Low-Cost Cybersecurity Resources

Prestige Technology Systems and JMF Solutions, in collaboration with CISA and the FBI, provide access to free and low-cost resources that enhance cybersecurity for organizations of all sizes. These services, available through local FBI field offices, CISA regional teams, and our network operations center, are ideal for those with limited IT resources.

1. JMF and Prestige BGP Blackhole Service (Free)

JMF Solutions and Prestige Technology Systems offer a free BGP Blackhole service to block traffic from known bad actors, protecting networks from ransomware and other threats. Using reputable sources, we identify malicious routing, subnet, and ASN information, tag these routes with BGP communities, and propagate them to our edge network, where traffic is dropped, null-routed, or blackholed.

  • Key Benefits:
    • Network Invisibility: Makes your network invisible to bad actors.
    • Blocks Infested Machines: Prevents compromised devices from communicating with malicious networks.
    • Open Access: Available to any business, hospital, university, or government entity.
    • Free Training: We teach organizations to blackhole traffic.
  • Action Steps:
    • Apply by emailing noc@jmfnetworks.net with your organization’s details.
    • Set up a BGP session with our team and learn blackholing techniques.
    • Monitor your network for blocked traffic.
  • Cost: Free.
  • Impact: Blocks known threats, reducing ransomware risks.

2. CISA’s Continuous Scanning and Cyber Hygiene Services (Free)

CISA’s Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation (CDM) Program and Cyber Hygiene services provide free, continuous scanning to identify network vulnerabilities. Prestige and JMF use these services to protect clients’ networks.

  • Key Benefits:
    • Reduced Risk: Significant risk reduction within the first year.
    • Proactive Detection: Identifies vulnerabilities and known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs).
    • Improved Response: Enables faster remediation with real-time insights.
    • Asset Visibility: Discovers known, unknown, and unmanaged assets.
  • Action Steps:
  • Cost: Free.
  • Impact: Prevents ransomware by identifying vulnerabilities.

3. Wazuh Open-Source Security Platform (Free or Low-Cost Hosted)

Wazuh is a free, open-source platform for intrusion detection, log analysis, file integrity monitoring, and vulnerability detection. JMF Solutions and Prestige offer economical cloud hosting, setup assistance, and management for real-time analytics and protection.

  • Key Features:
    • Agent-Based Monitoring: Collects logs and configurations from endpoints.
    • Intrusion Detection: Scans for malware, rootkits, and suspicious activities.
    • Log Analysis: Detects errors, misconfigurations, and malicious behavior.
    • File Integrity Monitoring: Alerts on unauthorized file changes.
    • Vulnerability Detection: Identifies software vulnerabilities.
    • Agentless Monitoring: Uses SSH or syslog for network devices.
    • Integrations: Pairs with Syslog, Graylog, or ELK Stack (hosted by Prestige).
  • Action Steps:
    • Self-host Wazuh for free at wazuh.com.
    • Email sales@prestiegsystems.com for low-cost hosting or management.
    • Integrate with logging tools like Graylog.
  • Cost: Free (self-hosted); low-cost hosting (contact for pricing).
  • Impact: Provides real-time threat detection, preventing ransomware.

4. CISA’s Cyber Essentials Program (Free)

CISA’s Cyber Essentials equips organizations with free guidance to build a “Culture of Cyber Readiness.”

  • Key Resources:
    • Starter Kit: A guide for basic cybersecurity practices.
    • Toolkits: Frameworks for IT and leadership alignment.
    • Small Business Webpage: Tools at cisa.gov/cybersecurity-small-business.
  • Action Steps:
    • Download the Starter Kit and share with leadership.
    • Use CISA’s templates for a cybersecurity policy.
    • Contact CISA for support.
  • Cost: Free.
  • Impact: Establishes foundational cybersecurity.

5. FBI Outreach and Collaboration (Free)

The FBI connects businesses with local field offices for cybersecurity awareness.

  • Key Resources:
  • Action Steps:
    • Contact your local FBI field office for workshops.
    • Invite FBI agents to staff training on phishing.
  • Cost: Free.
  • Impact: Provides expert advice.

6. State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (Indirect Benefit)

Administered by FEMA and CISA, this program funds government entities, benefiting businesses indirectly.

  • Action Steps:
  • Cost: Free (for businesses).
  • Impact: Strengthens regional cybersecurity.

Prestige Technology Integrated Cybersecurity Solution:

Fortinet, SentinelOne, and Wazuh

(Low-Cost, Per-Device/User/System)

For organizations seeking a comprehensive, cost-effective solution, Prestige Technology Systems and JMF Solutions offer an integrated approach combining Fortinet UTM firewalls, SentinelOne endpoint protection, and Wazuh monitoring. Hosted in our secure cloud, this solution is priced per device, user, or system, with discounts for nonprofits, enterprises, and government organizations, ensuring affordability.

  • Fortinet UTM Firewalls (Cloud-Hosted):
    • Role: Provides network security with advanced threat prevention and segmented networking.
    • Key Features:
      • Blocks advanced malware and zero-day exploits.
      • Inspects SSL traffic to detect hidden threats.
      • Offers granular visibility into network activity.
    • Cost: Low monthly fee, sized for your business (contact noc@jmfnetworks.net).
  • SentinelOne Endpoint Protection (EPP/XDR):
    • Role: Delivers AI-driven, autonomous endpoint protection and response.
    • Key Features:
      • Prevents threats in real-time using behavioral analysis.
      • Mitigates zero-day and advanced malware.
      • Shares threat data with Fortinet for dynamic policies.
      • Automates IP blocking via API integration with Wazuh.
    • Cost: As low as a few dollars per device, with discounts for nonprofits and large volumes.
  • Wazuh Security Monitoring (Hosted or Self-Hosted):
    • Role: Centralizes security events for enhanced visibility and response.
    • Key Features:
      • Monitors endpoints and logs for suspicious activities.
      • Assesses vulnerabilities and configurations.
      • Integrates with Fortinet and SentinelOne for automated responses.
    • Cost: Free (self-hosted) or low-cost hosted (contact for pricing).
  • Integration Benefits:
    • Enhanced Visibility: Combines network, endpoint, and monitoring data in Wazuh’s dashboard.
    • Improved Detection: Detects a wide range of threats faster.
    • Automated Response: Blocks malicious IPs automatically via SentinelOne and Wazuh.
    • Simplified Management: Centralizes monitoring in Wazuh.
    • Compliance: Supports HIPAA, FERPA, and other regulations with detailed logs.
  • Action Steps:
    • Email sales@prestigesystems.com to discuss sizing and pricing.
    • Configure Fortinet and SentinelOne logs to feed into Wazuh.
    • Install Wazuh agents on endpoints or use our hosted solution.
    • Set up automated responses (e.g., IP blocking) with our support.
  • Cost: Affordable monthly pricing (contact for details).
  • Impact: Provides enterprise-grade protection at a fraction of the cost, preventing ransomware.


Additional Strategies to Prevent Ransomware

7. Educate Your Staff (Free)

Human error drives ransomware infections. CISA’s resources support training.

  • Action Steps:
  • Cost: Free.
  • Impact: Reduces vulnerabilities.

8. Implement Strong Password Policies (Free)

Weak passwords are exploitable.

  • Action Steps:
    • Require 12+ character passwords with mixed characters.
    • Use a free password manager like Bitwarden.
    • Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA).
  • Cost: Free.
  • Impact: Blocks unauthorized access.

9. Keep Software Updated (Free to Low Cost)

Outdated software invites ransomware.

10. Back Up Data Regularly (Low Cost)

Secure backups avoid ransom payments.

  • Action Steps:
    • Follow the 3-2-1 rule: 3 copies, 2 media, 1 offsite.
    • Use cloud backups (e.g., Prestige Secure Cloud) or external drives.
    • Test backups quarterly.
    • Prestige is a Veeam partner. https://www.veeam.com/
  • Cost: depends on sizing and retention levels. sales@prestigesystems.com
  • Impact: Enables ransom-free recovery.

11. Use Free Security Tools (Free)

Basic tools stop ransomware early.

  • Action Steps:
    • Install Microsoft Defender or Avast Free Antivirus.
    • Enable firewalls stateful packet inspection.
    • Default deny all traffic, build rules for what you need or want.
    • Scan regularly with Malwarebytes (free version).
  • Cost: Free.
  • Impact: Detects threats.

12. Segment Your Network (Low Cost)

Segmentation limits ransomware spread.

  • Action Steps:
    • Create VLANs to isolate systems (included with Fortinet).
    • Use managed switches.
    • Prestige provides managed network as a low cost service.
    • Restrict access by role.
  • Cost: Depends on sizing. sales@prestigesystems.com
  • Impact: Contains infections.

13. Develop an Incident Response Plan (Free)

A plan minimizes attack damage.

  • Action Steps:
  • Cost: Free to ~$500 (optional consultant).
  • Impact: Speeds recovery.

Additional Tips

  • Secure Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP): Disable or secure with MFA (free).
  • Monitor Activity: Use Wazuh, Graylog, or Microsoft Defender for detection.
  • Join Communities: Engage with InfraGard or ISACs (free) for updates.


Conclusion

Ransomware is preventable with strategic measures. Prestige Technology Systems and JMF Solutions leverage our BGP Blackhole service, CISA’s scanning, Wazuh, and our Fortinet-SentinelOne-Wazuh solution to deliver enterprise-grade protection affordably. By adopting these free and low-cost strategies, you can safeguard your operations, data, and reputation. For more information, to apply for our BGP Blackhole service, or to discuss our integrated solution, please reach out to us directly. Together, we can create a safer digital future.

https://prestigeystems.com

https://jmfnetworks.net

https://savemyhospital.org

Email: Sales: sales@prestigesystems.com Noc: noc@jmfnetworks.net

Call us at 251-517-5070