High‑profile ransomware attacks on strata organisations such as SSKB and Strata Plus have shown how quickly on‑premises infrastructure can become a single point of failure. When attackers encrypt operating systems, phones, and data, scheme administration, owner communications, and financial processes can grind to a halt.
Recent ransomware incidents affecting strata firms have demonstrated the operational and reputational damage that a successful attack can cause. In the SSKB and Strata Plus cases, attackers gained access to on‑premises systems and encrypted critical infrastructure, disrupting not only IT but also phone lines and day‑to‑day scheme operations. These incidents highlight how traditional, on‑premises infrastructure can become the primary attack surface when security controls and backup strategies are not robust enough.
Ransomware can encrypt servers, workstations, and backups, leaving staff unable to access scheme records, email, and management platforms. This directly impacts levy processing, owner communications, and committee support.
In some strata attacks, telephony and other operational systems hosted on‑premises were also affected, compounding the disruption. The result was not just an IT outage, but a business‑wide operational crisis.
Recovering from on‑premises ransomware attacks often requires rebuilding systems, restoring from backup, and managing communications with owners, regulators, and insurers. This process can take weeks and incur significant cost and reputational damage.
Cloud hosting with AWS and Microsoft 365 changes the ransomware equation by providing immutable backups, automated patching, network segmentation, and rapid recovery capabilities that are difficult to replicate on‑premises. While cloud is not a silver bullet, it significantly reduces the likelihood that a single breach will take down your entire environment, and it shortens recovery time when incidents occur. Microsolve designs cloud environments specifically to improve ransomware resilience for strata workloads.
AWS and Microsoft 365 support immutable or versioned backups and object storage that cannot be easily deleted or encrypted by attackers. This gives you a reliable restore point even if production systems are compromised.
Cloud platforms and managed services apply security patches and hardening baselines automatically or through managed processes, reducing the window of vulnerability that ransomware often exploits. Microsolve configures these baselines around strata risk profiles.
Cloud environments can be segmented into isolated networks and subnets, with strict identity and access controls that limit lateral movement. This makes it harder for attackers to move from one system to another once inside.
Cloud infrastructure supports faster restoration of workloads from backup and can be designed with failover options to alternate regions or configurations. This reduces downtime and helps maintain critical scheme operations during an incident.
AWS and Microsoft 365 provide centralised logging, alerting, and integration with security tools that improve detection of suspicious activity before it escalates into a full ransomware incident. Microsolve configures monitoring to align with your support model.
Cloud hosting is most effective against ransomware when it is part of a layered defence that also includes strong governance, email security, and staff awareness. Microsolve aligns cloud architecture with SMB1001 controls, email archiving and protection, and targeted training so that technology, process, and people work together to reduce risk.
SMB1001 provides a structured framework for backups, access control, patching, policies, and incident response that complements cloud technical controls. Microsolve uses SMB1001 to ensure your cloud environment is governed and consistently configured.
Email remains a primary ransomware entry point, so Microsolve combines cloud hosting with email filtering, attachment scanning, and immutable archiving to reduce phishing risk and preserve evidence. This limits both initial infection and post‑incident investigation gaps.
Targeted training helps staff recognise phishing attempts, suspicious links, and unusual requests that often precede ransomware attacks. Microsolve supports strata firms with practical, role‑based training that reinforces technical controls.
Cloud environments are easier to test and validate for incident response, including backup restoration and failover scenarios. Microsolve helps strata firms run tabletop exercises and technical tests to ensure plans work in practice.
Microsolve does not treat cloud hosting as a generic product that fits every business in the exact same way. We design environments specifically to improve ransomware resilience for strata workloads and operations. The process starts with understanding your current security posture, backup strategy, and pain points, then building an AWS and Microsoft 365 environment that reduces attack surface and speeds recovery.
Microsolve reviews your existing infrastructure, backups, email security, and incident history, and speaks with leadership and key staff to understand where ransomware risk is highest. This informs a cloud architecture that prioritises resilience for critical strata systems.
Microsolve designs the AWS and Microsoft 365 environment with immutable backups, segmentation, identity controls, and logging aligned to SMB1001 and your internal policies. We define recovery patterns and RTO/RPO targets that match your operational needs.
We implement the environment, validate backup and recovery processes, and run incident response tests to ensure everything works as intended. Ongoing management includes monitoring, patching, and periodic reviews to keep pace with evolving threats.
Ransomware attacks are not theoretical risks, and we understand that taking precautions to protect your data can feel overwhelming or are simply not a priority at times. We're here to help protect your data and relieve the pressure of spinning too many plates at once.
Book a short review to discuss your next steps in protecting your organisation from ransomware attacks.
No security measure can guarantee complete prevention, but cloud hosting significantly reduces risk and impact by providing immutable backups, segmentation, and faster recovery. This makes it harder for attackers to take down your entire environment.
Cloud platforms support rapid restoration from immutable backups and can be designed with failover options, so critical systems can be brought back online more quickly than with many on‑premises setups. This reduces downtime for scheme administration and owner services.
Yes. Cloud hosting improves backup resilience through immutability and versioning, but you still need a defined backup and recovery strategy. Microsolve designs and tests this as part of your cloud environment.
Cloud hosting provides the technical foundation, while SMB1001 adds governance, policies, and structured controls, and email security reduces phishing and malware entry points. Together they create a layered defence that is stronger than any single control.
Yes. Cloud services can be scaled to smaller environments and budgets, and often provide better ransomware resilience than limited on‑premises setups. Microsolve tailors the architecture to your size and risk profile.
