Modern ransomware attacks are fundamentally identity attacks — attackers first compromise credentials, then move laterally using privileged identities, before deploying ransomware. Identity security is the primary defense and the primary target.
⚙️ How Does It Work?
The typical ransomware kill chain: phish credentials → bypass MFA (fatigue or social engineering) → move laterally using pass-the-hash or stolen tokens → compromise Active Directory domain admin → deploy ransomware at scale. PAM, ITDR, and UEBA break this chain.
📍 Where Is It Used?
Every organization — ransomware attacks have hit hospitals, pipelines, banks, schools, and governments. Identity compromise is present in 80%+ of ransomware incidents.
💡 Real-World Example
The Colonial Pipeline attack began with a compromised VPN account that had no MFA. The attacker used the credential to access the network, moved laterally using an overprivileged service account, and deployed ransomware. PAM + MFA + ITDR would have stopped the attack at multiple stages.
🔗 Related Terms
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