Defend Before the Attack: Why Ransomware Simulations Matter?

Before we move towards ransomware simulations, you might be wondering what ransomware is. Let's understand it. Ransomware is a form of malicious software or malware that infiltrates a computer or network and limits or restricts access to critical data by encrypting files until a ransom is paid. These attacks can be devastating, leading to data loss, financial damage, reputation loss, and operational disruption.

Banking and financial services rank as the No. 1 industry for detected ransomware attacks. The rate of ransomware attacks increased from 34% in 2021 to 64% in 2023, with the average cost of a data breach being $5.90 million. Only 1 in 10 attacks were stopped before encryption took place, making a total of 81% of organizations victims of data encryption. Exploited vulnerabilities (40%) and compromised credentials (23%) were the two most common root causes of the most significant ransomware attacks in the financial services sector (Source: Sophos, 2023).

Now, let’s understand how ransomware can spread. Over 90% of successful cyberattacks start with a phishing email, which often includes malicious attachments or links that, when clicked, download ransomware onto the victim’s system and encrypt data, thus carrying out the attack.


To give an example of a successful ransomware attack: recently, C-Edge Technologies, a service provider for small Indian banks, experienced a ransomware attack that temporarily disrupted payment systems at nearly 300 banks across India. The National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) isolated C-Edge from the broader payment network to prevent further impact. Although only about 0.5% of the country’s payment volumes were affected, the incident followed recent warnings from the Reserve Bank of India and cyber authorities about potential cyber threats.


So now you might be wondering how to stop a ransomware attack. Don't worry, we’ve got you covered. Introducing our product, Next Gen Advanced Persistence Threat (APT) based attack simulation platform ZeroHack - S—a ‘Made in India’ first-of-its-kind comprehensive simulation service that mimics a real ransomware attack in a secure, controlled environment. This deliberate practice allows organizations to evaluate their readiness and response to simulated cyber threats without risking actual harm to systems or data.

Now let’s understand how it works—here are the stages of a ransomware attack simulation:

Evaluating Email Security

• Scenario: The simulation begins with a phishing email campaign. This email contains a malicious attachment or link designed to deliver ransomware.

• Objective: To assess how well the email security system can detect and block such threats. The focus is on the performance of spam filters, antivirus scanning, and anti-phishing measures.

• Outcome: The effectiveness of the email security solutions is evaluated based on their ability to prevent the email from reaching end users or alerting them about the phishing attempt.

Evaluating Web Application Firewall (WAF)

• Scenario: Next, the simulation evaluates the WAF by attempting to exploit vulnerabilities in a web application. This step may involve sending malicious traffic or payloads designed to compromise the application and deliver ransomware.

• Objective: To evaluate the WAF’s ability to filter and block harmful requests before they reach the application. The focus is on how well the WAF protects against exploitation attempts.

• Outcome: The effectiveness of the WAF is measured by its ability to prevent malicious traffic and mitigate risks associated with web-based threats.

Evaluating Network Security

• Scenario: As the ransomware spreads, the simulation evaluates network security measures to contain and prevent the spread of the ransomware within the network. This includes monitoring for unusual network traffic and potential lateral movement.

• Objective: To evaluate how well network security tools, such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems (IDS), and intrusion prevention systems (IPS), can detect and block ransomware-related activities.

• Outcome: The effectiveness of network security is assessed based on its ability to isolate affected segments, stop the spread of ransomware, and maintain overall network integrity.

Evaluating Endpoint Security

• Scenario: Once the ransomware has bypassed email and WAF protections, it targets individual endpoints (e.g., computers, and laptops). This stage involves deploying ransomware on these devices to test the capabilities of endpoint security solutions.

• Objective: To assess the endpoint security system’s capability to detect and neutralize the ransomware before it can encrypt files. This includes antivirus programs, anti-malware tools, Extended Detection and Response (XDR), Host-Based Intrusion Detection System (HIDS), and Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions.

• Outcome: The success of the endpoint security measures is judged by their ability to detect ransomware, prevent its execution, and stop encryption processes.

Encryption Stage

• Scenario: Finally, the ransomware encryption process is simulated to assess how the organization responds to files being encrypted. This stage evaluates the readiness of backup solutions and incident response plans.

• Objective: To determine how well the organization can manage the aftermath of an attack, including data recovery and business continuity.

• Outcome: The focus is on the organization’s ability to restore encrypted files from backups and manage the operational impact of the ransomware attack.

The process of Next Gen Advanced Persistence Threat (APT) based attack simulation platform ransomware simulation thoroughly evaluates various aspects of your security infrastructure, including email security, web application firewalls (WAF), network defenses, and endpoint protection. This comprehensive simulation allows you to evaluate your organization's resilience against ransomware attacks in a controlled environment. By conducting this simulation, you can determine whether your security measures are adequate to fend off such attacks.

If the simulated attack is successful, you gain valuable insights into the vulnerabilities exploited during the attack. This information enables you to understand why the attack occurred and improve your security posture accordingly. Rather than facing a real attack with potentially devastating consequences, ZeroHack – S provides a safe and effective way to assess and enhance your cybersecurity posture.

Please reflect on your current cybersecurity apparatus by answering these questions:

• Does your organization have a specific plan to respond to a ransomware attack?

• Have you ever conducted a ransomware simulation to test your preparedness?
• How quickly can your organization detect and respond to a ransomware attack?