Blog

Target: IT (Elementary)

Tags: Threat Prevention, Isolation, Malware, Ransomware

Ransomware attacks have become a pervasive threat in the United States, affecting organizations across various sectors. In 2024, 59% of organizations experienced ransomware attacks,
with the healthcare sector being the most impacted, accounting for 18.6% of annual attacks [1]. The average ransom payment in the U.S. during the third quarter of 2024 was approximately $479,237 [2].

The financial implications of ransomware are staggering. In 2023, ransomware attackers extorted over $1 billion from victims, marking a record high [3]. Looking ahead, ransomware is projected to cost its victims around $265 billion annually by 2031, with a new attack occurring every two seconds [4].

How Ransomware is Prevented Today

Organizations use multiple security layers to prevent ransomware, including:

• Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR): Monitors endpoints for suspicious activity and responds to threats.
• Antivirus and Anti-Malware Solutions: Detect known ransomware signatures and block them.
• Firewalls and Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS): Protect networks by filtering malicious traffic.
• Email Security Solutions: Identify phishing emails and block malicious attachments.
• Backup and Disaster Recovery: Ensures that organizations can recover data without paying ransom.
• Security Awareness Training: Educates employees on identifying phishing attempts and social engineering tactics.

Limitations of Traditional Security Approaches

While these methods provide some protection, they have critical weaknesses:

• Signature-Based Detection is Insufficient: Many ransomware variants are polymorphic, evading traditional antivirus solutions.
• EDR Requires Post-Infection Response: It detects and mitigates threats after an attack has already begun.
• Human Error is Inevitable: Despite training, employees may still fall victim to phishing attacks [5].
• Backup Strategies Are Vulnerable: Modern ransomware targets backup files, encrypting them before they can be restored.

The Zero-Trust Approach to Ransomware Prevention

To combat these challenges, many organizations are adopting zero-trust security models. Unlike traditional security frameworks that assume entities within the network are
trustworthy, zero-trust operates on the principle of “never trust, always verify.” Every access request is authenticated, authorized, and continuously validated, regardless of its origin.
To expand on this concept, applications, processes, and network communications can be isolated. Files are not detected since detection is based on trust; however, they are disarmed using
Content Disarm and Reconstruction (CDR). This model prevents ransomware from establishing a foothold in the system.

How Zero-Trust Solutions Stop Ransomware

• Micro-Segmentation: Limits lateral movement by isolating devices, applications, and workloads.
• Least Privilege Access: Ensures that users and applications only have access to what is strictly necessary.
• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Reduces the risk of credential theft by requiring multiple forms of verification.
• Continuous Monitoring: Uses AI and behavioral analysis to detect anomalies in real time.
• Isolation Technology: Runs untrusted content in a secure environment to prevent execution of ransomware.

BUFFERZONE Protection By Containment™

BUFFERZONE® takes zero-trust security further by employing Protection By Containment™, which isolates external threats directly on the endpoint. This method ensures users can
interact with potentially risky content without exposing their system to ransomware.

Key Components:

• Safe Browser: Runs untrusted web sessions in an isolated container, preventing drive-by downloads and browser exploits. By using Browser Isolation, we significantly reduce
  the external attack vectors.
• Safe Mail: Opens email attachments and links in a virtualized environment, blocking malware execution.
• Safe Removables: Secures external storage devices like USBs, ensuring that infected files do not spread ransomware.
• SafeBridge® AI: Zero-Trust File Security ensures secure transfer of files from an isolated environment to a trusted network. BUFFERZONE utilizes SafeBridge®, a zero-trust
  file-handling solution that incorporates on-host Content Disarm and Reconstruction (CDR) technology. This technology sanitizes any active or suspicious content within files,
  delivering a reconstructed and secure version to prevent the spread of ransomware during file transfers. Powered by NoCloud® AI technology, we can identify and explain the
  evasive attack vectors hidden within the files.
• Safe Data: AI-powered Vault that protects data-at-rest from ransomware and other data-stealing threats. It actively scans files for business and legal confidential information
  and secures them in a virtual vault, ensuring that sensitive data remains protected from potential ransomware attacks. BUFFERZONE® data classification engine scans for confidential business data, medical information, and internal records, suggesting that sensitive information be stored in the vault.

Conclusion

The rising threat of ransomware necessitates a proactive and comprehensive security strategy. Traditional prevention methods provide some protection but are not foolproof.
The zero-trust model strengthens security by continuously verifying trust, limiting access, and isolating threats. BUFFERZONE® Protection By Containment™ technology, combined
with NoCloud® technology, with solutions like SafeBridge® AI, and Safe Data significantly enhance ransomware defenses by securing web browsing, email attachments, removable media,
file transfers, and sensitive data.

By integrating zero-trust principles with advanced isolation and AI-powered data protection, organizations can drastically reduce ransomware risks and protect their critical assets.

Contact us to learn more.

References

[1] Steve Alder, The HIPPA Journal Healthcare Ransomware Attacks Continue to Increase in Number and Severity, 2024

[2] Statista, Average amount of cyber ransom payments at organizations in the United States from 1st quarter 2022 to 3rd quarter 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1409510/ransom-payment-us-quarterly-amount/, 2024

[3] Chainalysis ,  2024 Crypto Crime Trends: Illicit Activity Down as Scamming and Stolen Funds Fall, But Ransomware and Darknet Markets See Growth, https://www.chainalysis.com/blog/2024-crypto-crime-report-introduction/

[4] David Braue, Cybercrime Magazine, Global Ransomware Damage Costs Predicted to Exceed $265 Billion By 2031, https://cybersecurityventures.com/ransomware-report-2021/

[5] Verizon Data Breach, 2024 Data Breach Investigations Report, Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report 2024, 2024