BeyondTrust PAM vs. DarkSide Ransomware
See how BeyondTrust solutions dismantle a DarkSide ransomware attack.
Ransomware incidents have exploded over the past few years—and it’s no surprise why. Digital transformation initiatives—from expanded cloud deployments and utilization to increased remote access—have massively increased the attack surface.
Ransomware operators will typically scan for unsecured, open ports to start their attack. Internet-exposed Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) endpoints continue to be cited in threat reports as the #1 entry point for ransomware, giving attackers their initial foothold in roughly 50% of successful ransomware attacks.
Meanwhile, other remote access technologies, like VPN, are being stretched for use cases far beyond what is secure, and are often poorly implemented. This all makes it easy for attackers to find gaps, gain broad access, and deliver malicious payloads, including ransomware. Phishing emails with infected attachments or malicious links also continue to surge in volume.
No matter how it is delivered, almost all ransomware requires privileges just to execute (install files or drivers, access registry keys, etc.) and encrypt data as well as to move laterally and spread. Ransomware attacks are increasingly incorporating fileless malware techniques to stay hidden while they advance through an organization’s systems and network.
Ready-to-go ransomware as a service kits are widely available on the dark web. This makes it easier than ever for an unsophisticated threat actor to launch a highly sophisticated, multi-step attack.
BeyondTrust Privileged Access Management breaks the ransomware attack chain at multiple points by exerting control over privileges, applications, and remote access pathways, and enforcing zero trust security principles.
See how BeyondTrust solutions dismantle a DarkSide ransomware attack.
The BeyondTrust Privileged Access Management (PAM) platform comprises four integrated solutions: Secure Remote Access, Endpoint Privilege Management, Privileged Password Management, and Cloud Security Management.
BeyondTrust solutions defend against the most common ransomware and malware attack vectors, including insecure remote access pathways and privileged access. Our solutions also protect against sophisticated edge cases that leverage social engineering, macros, and other vulnerabilities.
"Ransomware is not magic—it can only run with the privileges of the user or the application that launches it. Therein lies its weakness, and our chance to leverage tools to contain it before it starts."
Traditional remote access methods such as RDP, VPNs, and legacy remote desktop tools lack the access management controls critical to ensuring least privilege. Moreover, RDP and VPN are commonly exploited due to vulnerabilities or misconfigurations. Extending remote access to your vendors makes matters even worse.
BeyondTrust Secure Remote Access locks down remote access, applying least privilege and auditing controls to all remote access from employees, vendors, and service desks.
BeyondTrust Endpoint Privilege Management is recognized by analysts as the industry’s leading solution for privilege elevation and delegation and application control. The solution manages and secures privileges across all types of endpoints—Windows, Mac, Unix, Linux, desktops, servers, and IoT.
While ransomware is commonly delivered as independent malware, some strains leverage legitimate applications and macros, such as Microsoft Office, Adobe, and PowerShell. BeyondTrust Endpoint Privilege Management stops ransomware and fileless (living of the land) attacks at the source by protecting rogue execution of these applications.
Compromised credentials play a role in almost every IT security incident—ransomware is no exception. That’s why it’s critical to secure privileged credentials with an enterprise privileged password management solution.
The more complex the environment, the easier it can be for ransomware and other attacks to succeed and lay hidden. Most companies using multiple cloud environments (AWS, Azure, etc.), yet do not have centralized management and visibility across platforms, resulting in dangerous gaps.
BeyondTrust provides cloud-native security, built to address the needs of multicloud environments in a centralized manner.