07 June 2017

Reading Buses was being repeatedly targeted with ransomware, and downtime was becoming a regular occurrence.

Reading Buses is using Datto’s data protection and business continuity solutions after being hit by ransomware.

With more than 150 buses and 400 drivers serving the Reading area, the transport company needed a solution that could protect all of its data – including vehicle maintenance and payroll – from unforeseen events.

After seeking advice from its managed service provider, Complete I.T., Reading Buses data are now stored and backed up both on-site and in Datto’s private cloud at regular intervals. It is available to be restored at a moment’s notice.

The solution was called into action almost immediately on deployment when Reading Buses was able to quickly restore systems following a ransomware attack.

Arriving as an email attachment, the Locky virus quickly encrypted an unsuspecting staff member’s computer, as well as many shared locations across the business that the users had access to. 

Previously, Reading Buses would have suffered significant downtime due to the attack. But with Datto’s systems in palce, the company was able to locate the infected files, remove them, and restore all relevant information from the backup. The company was operational again within minutes, and no ransom was paid.

“Providing a first class service is paramount, but downtime was becoming a more regular occurrence,” said Mark Price, IT manager at Reading Buses. “We were repeatedly targeted with ransomware but we couldn’t simply disregard emails from unknown senders, as we receive many enquiries each day from passengers."

Price added that the company needed a solution that would work in the background, enable it to restore systems quickly, ensure customers weren’t affected, and that its revenues and reputation were not impacted.