Ransomware attacks have surged in recent months causing huge disruption and financial losses to some big companies. Many organisations are ill-equipped to tackle attackers who continuously probe for weaknesses. That’s where Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) as a service comes in. Offering a proactive, data-driven approach that helps reduce ransomware risks before they become full blown incidents.
A typical ransomware attack doesn’t begin with the final encryption payload — it starts long before that. Attackers often begin by exploiting a low-level exposure such as a misconfigured server, a phishing entry point, or an unpatched vulnerability. From there, they move laterally across the network, escalate privileges, disable defences, and locate high-value systems and data. Only once they’ve established control do they deploy the ransomware, locking critical files and demanding payment.
What makes this so dangerous is the attacker’s ability to link multiple weaknesses together — creating an invisible attack path through your environment.
By simulating real-world attack scenarios, CTEM as a service identifies and prioritises the exposures most likely to be used in such an attack chain, CTEM allows your organisation to focus on breaking those links before they’re exploited — cutting off the path to ransomware at its source.
A purely vulnerability-based approach to defence is no longer enough. There are now over 29,000 CVEs (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) tracked in a single year, and the reality is that most organisations don’t have the resources to patch everything. CTEM takes a smarter path. Instead of drowning in lists of technical weaknesses, CTEM helps you assess which exposures present the highest risk based on their role in attack chains, how easily they can be exploited, and the potential business impact.
This prioritised, risk-based approach ensures that your teams are investing time and energy where it counts and making you significantly less likely to fall victim to a ransomware attack.
Building cyber resilience through continuous improvement
Ransomware actors thrive on gaps created by time. The time between scans, between patch cycles, between when a risk is discovered and when it is addressed. CTEM eliminates these blind spots by adopting a continuous cycle of scoping, discovery, prioritisation, validation, and mobilisation.
With our CTEM as a Service, this isn’t just a technical platform it’s a fully managed service delivered by the best cyber security experts. From setting up the XM Cyber Continuous Exposure Management platform to integrating with tools like Jira and ServiceNow, the service keeps exposure management tightly woven into your day-to-day operations. You also benefit from weekly KPI reporting and optional remediation assistance to ensure accountability and measurable progress.
The benefits of adopting CTEM to reduce ransomware risks are clear:
We are Europe’s leading independent cyber security specialists, that combines advanced platforms, expert analysts, and tailored consultancy to protect your business from the most pressing cyber threats. With over 500 security professionals, strong vendor partnerships, and a client-first attitude, we help you turn exposure management into a strategic advantage.
To learn more about how CTEM can proactively reduce your ransomware risk, visit integrity360.com or speak to one of our experts today.