The importance of cybersecurity is once again in the national spotlight after a major worldwide attack by gangs connected to Russia.

U.S. Rep. John Katko hosted a roundtable Wednesday with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to talk about what business owners can do.

The main message they drove home was that CISA is here with free support for New Yorkers to protect themselves from cybercrime.

They said it's important to invest on the front end and build up protection, adding that paying a ransom should only be an absolute last resort.

Katko also said it's important for the U.S. to send a strong message.

“What’s the deterrent for Russia and bad actors in Russia that are coming after us? There has been no deterrent effect," Katko said. "Now [President Biden] met with [Russian President Putin]. I hope he conveyed the message. But if he conveyed the message and then doesn’t act on that message — because it’s clear Russia is behind this latest attack — well, then we’re going to continue to have more of these problems.”

The company whose software was exploited said it appears that fewer than 1,500 businesses worldwide were compromised during the attack.