BackupAssist, a leading provider of automated Windows server backup and recovery software for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), today announced the worldwide general availability launch of its CryptoSafeGuard ransomware protection.  Robust enough for enterprise deployment but offered at a dramatically more affordable price point, the new software enables small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to protect against having their backups encrypted and held for ransom.  

CryptoSafeGuard protects your backups from ransomware by stopping infected files from being backed up and prevents your backups from being encrypted.  It is designed to complement existing anti-malware solutions by adding an extra layer of detection at the data level, while also providing extra shielding around backups.  Active, simple and non-intrusive, CryptoSafeGuard delivers the following capabilities:

• Protects - with features designed to stop ransomware from corrupting your backups from the BackupAssist computer.
• Detects - scans and detects the effects of ransomware activities in the source files under backup protection.
• Responds - alerts your administrator via SMS and E-mail upon detection of crypto-corrupted files.
• Preserves - blocks future backup jobs from running, thus preserving the last-known good backup. 

"As a public services organization supported by tax dollars, we are extremely cognizant and cautious in how our budget is allocated," said Mike Luu, Information Services Director, City of Milpitas, California.  "We didn't have an 'enterprise-sized' budget to spend on ransomware protection.  However, we would be negligent if we didn't invest in protection against the type of malicious software that could block access to our computers and data, and therefore our city services, until a sum of money is paid.  And, that sum can be large - too large for an organization like ours.  This is exactly the position some of my colleagues have found themselves in - it was ugly - and it wasn't anything I wanted even the remotest possibility of having to deal with here.BackupAssist's CryptoSafeGuard will deliver the extra layer of protection organizations need at an affordable price." 

A 2016 Osterman Research report entitled, "Best Practices for Dealing with Phishing and Ransomware" offered some sobering statistics, including the fact that 51% of those surveyed had been successfully infiltrated by ransomware, malware, or a hacker one-to-five times.  "Ransomware is a very real and critical problem that every organization regardless of size must address through a variety of means, including good backup processes and technology - such as BackupAssist and its CryptoSafeGuard solution," said Michael Osterman, President, Osterman Research. 

"Many businesses that are hit by ransomware have to pay ludicrous fees to restore operations - some are even forced to shut-down.  But, ransomware has one big weakness.  If you've got clean backups, you can simply wipe the infected system, and restore your data - all without paying a cent in ransom.  But, ransomware has gotten smarter - it knows this and now looks for ways to encrypt your backups too so you can't use them," said Troy Vertigan, Vice President of Sales and Marketing,BackupAssist.  "That's where CryptoSafeGuard comes in - actively protecting your backups - eliminating the threat of ransomware infection." 

CryptoSafeGuard will be available September 1, 2017 and is included with BackupCare.  BackupCare subscriptions start from as low as $106 USD for 12 months when bundled with a new purchase.    

To request a free trial of CryptoSafeGuard software, please visit:www.backupassist.com/backupassist/features/cryptosafeguard.php.