Threat Protection

    Ransomware Resilience

    Ransomware protection is a structured security program covering prevention, detection, and recovery, built around reducing the chance of a successful attack and limiting the damage if one does occur.

    We test whether your organisation holds up against it, from phishing to lateral movement. You see which entry points are open and what needs closing first. The measures themselves are carried out by your own team or IT partner.

    Get ProtectedFree Security Scan
    Ransomware Threat Landscape
    €4.5M
    Avg. cost per attack
    23 days
    Avg. downtime
    Every 11 seconds
    A new organization falls victim to ransomware

    What We Test

    Entry points

    We test the routes ransomware comes in through: phishing, exposed VPN and RDP, unpatched web applications, and reused credentials.

    Lateral movement

    From a single compromised account we map how far an attacker gets towards domain controllers and data stores.

    The human layer

    Phishing simulations and Swishing show how many employees click, and how fast that number drops with training.

    Retest

    After your fixes we test again to confirm the attack paths we used are genuinely closed.

    The ransomware attack chain: five stages

    Understanding how attacks unfold reveals exactly where prevention, detection, and response must be strongest. Each stage is an opportunity to stop the attack before it escalates.

    Stage 1: Initial access

    Phishing is the most common starting point, followed by exploitation of externally exposed systems such as unpatched VPNs, RDP endpoints, and web-facing applications. In many cases, valid credentials from previous breaches are used directly. The attacker is inside before anyone notices.

    Stage 2: Reconnaissance and lateral movement

    For weeks to months the attacker moves quietly through the network. Credentials are harvested, internal systems are mapped, and high-value targets such as domain controllers and data repositories are identified. Detection during this phase prevents the attack from escalating.

    Stage 3: Data exfiltration

    Before encryption begins, valuable data is exfiltrated to attacker-controlled infrastructure. This enables double extortion: pay for the decryption key and pay again to prevent publication of stolen data. Paying the ransom does not guarantee data is deleted or that the attackers have left the environment.

    Stage 4: Encryption

    All reachable systems are encrypted simultaneously, often over a weekend or holiday period when response capacity is lowest. The attack becomes visible only at this point. By then the attacker has typically been inside for weeks.

    Stage 5: Extortion and pressure

    The ransom demand arrives with a deadline and often with proof of stolen data. Average total cost including downtime, remediation, and reputational damage substantially exceeds the ransom amount itself. Attackers rely on urgency and operational pressure to force payment.

    What we do, and what we do not

    Ransomware resilience is not a single measure. We cover the testing part. Detection, response and recovery stay with your own team or your IT partner.

    Before: close the gaps

    Attack surface mapping, phishing simulations, and penetration testing expose the entry points attackers rely on. Swishing trains employees to recognize the social engineering that enables most ransomware deployments.

    During: not our role

    We do not monitor your environment and we do not perform incident response. During an attack, your national CSIRT and a specialised IR firm are the ones to call.

    After: confirm the gap is closed

    Once the incident is handled, we test whether the access routes that were abused are actually closed, and put that in writing for your file.

    Our Ransomware Services

    Ransomware resilience test
    External attack surface analysis
    Email security and phishing resilience testing
    Pentest of endpoint and workstation configuration
    Gamified phishing via Swishing
    On-demand pentesting via RedSOC
    Penetration TestingRedSOC PtaaS Platform
    Resilience test
    What you get
    100%
    Manually validated
    €0
    For the retest

    Frequently Asked Questions

    The majority of ransomware attacks start with phishing emails, followed by exploitation of unpatched software, exposed remote desktop protocols, and compromised credentials. Social engineering remains the single most common initial access vector, which is why employee awareness training and phishing simulations are a core part of ransomware prevention.

    Law enforcement agencies in Belgium, the Netherlands, and the UK officially advise against paying ransoms. Payment does not guarantee data recovery, does not guarantee attackers have left your environment, and may fund further attacks. Before considering payment, exhaust all technical recovery options, contact your national CSIRT or cyber authority, and engage a qualified incident response specialist.

    Yes. NIS2 Article 21(1)(c) requires business continuity management and recovery planning as mandatory technical measures for essential and important entities. This applies across Belgium, the Netherlands, and the rest of the EU. Organizations must be able to demonstrate their continuity and recovery procedures are functional and documented.

    Significantly. The majority of successful ransomware deployments begin with a phishing email that an employee acts on. Swishing trains employees through short weekly sessions to recognize suspicious emails before they click. A reduction in phishing click rates directly reduces the most common ransomware entry point.

    We do not perform incident response and we do not run an on-call desk. If an attack is active, contact your national CSIRT, the CCB in Belgium or the NCSC in the Netherlands, and a specialised incident response firm. What we do afterwards: test whether the access routes that made the attack possible are actually closed, and put that in writing for your file.

    Don't wait for an attack

    Test your resilience against ransomware and know which gaps to close first.

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