Ransomware resilience: Essential strategies for channel partners to protect clients and drive growth

Ransomware attacks are becoming more frequent and sophisticated, making them a major headache for businesses.

For channel partners, keeping clients safe from these cyber threats is top of mind. Without strong defences, clients are left vulnerable, trust is shattered, and growth screeches to a halt. But if you can help your clients stay resilient against ransomware,  you'll not only protect them from the immediate impact and lengthy fallout, but also strengthen your relationship with them, and drive your own business growth.

So, what can channel partners do to keep clients safe and secure? Here are some key strategies.

1. Start with a Comprehensive Security Assessment

Before you dive into implementing solutions, get a clear picture of your client's current cybersecurity setup. Audit their IT environment. This means looking at their network defences, endpoint protection, data backup routines, and who has access to what. Identifying potential weaknesses is the first step to crafting a strategy that’s tailored to their specific needs.

And don't stop there—cyber threats evolve, so regular security assessments should be part of your ongoing partnership, not just a one-off service. By staying on top of these assessments, you can adapt and improve your defences as new threats emerge.

Exclusive Networks offers our partners a structured approach to evaluate and enhance clients’ cybersecurity posture. Our framework helps identify gaps and ensures that the security measures align with the clients' risk profiles and business objectives.

2. Layer Up Your Security Solutions

The LockBit ransomware attack on Royal Mail in the UK earlier this year disrupted international shipping for days, affecting businesses and individuals alike. It highlighted the need for robust, layered defenses; when it comes to ransomware, a single line of defense won’t cut it.

• EPP (Endpoint Protection): EPP is effective in blocking ransomware using a mixture of static defenses - like signature detection -  and dynamic ones - such as behavioral analysis of code in real time, as well as over time. A big step forward from traditional anti-virus measures EPP protects against file-based and fileless attacks, including novel ones. . It helps reduce the attack surface by preventing initial infection from common vectors like phishing emails or malicious files, reducing the risk of ransomware infiltrating the network in the first place.
• EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response):  The line between EPP and EDR has blurred a bit over time, as EPP vendors evolved their solutions to add more layers of protection. The single biggest difference is that R-word - usually translated as Response or Remediation. Like EPP, EDRexcels in detecting ransomware that evades more traditional prevention methods, for example by identifying suspicious behaviors (e.g mass file encryption, unusual activity) in real time.

EDR goes further, enabling security teams to actively monitor, investigate, and respond to ransomware threats by isolating infected systems, halting encryption processes, and ‘rolling back’ their operating system and file system to an earlier, uninfected version.

EDR almost always involves SOC-based tools for the forensic analysis of attacks to understand how ransomware entered the system in the first place, which increased resilience to future attacks.

The combination of protection and remediation offered by EDR makes it the technology of choice for endpoints like laptops and mobile devices. l .

Looking beyond devices themselves, other key lines of defense to add to the mix are:

• Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFWs):  NGFWs and Firewall-as-a-Service (FWaaS) both offer deep inspection of traffic inbound and outbound from your networks, in real time. They can block malicious traffic before it can reach end devices. FWaaS has the edge of traditional NGFWs for organizations with cloud-based infrastructure and/or Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications - which is mostly everyone nowadays.
• Email Security Gateways: Since phishing emails are a common way for ransomware to sneak in, email security gateways with robust, often AI-enhanced filters can nip the problem in the bud.

A multi-layered strategy like this not only provides thorough protection but also shows your clients that you’re serious about their security. Exclusive Networks champions a multi-layered security model, promoting an integrated stack of solutions that protect all aspects of a client’s IT environment. By partnering with leading cybersecurity vendors, we enable channel partners to offer comprehensive, end-to-end protection that’s tailored to meet the evolving threat landscape.

3. Prioritise Data Backup and Recovery

Even with top-notch defenses, no system is foolproof. That’s why a strong backup and disaster recovery strategy is essential. Make sure your clients are regularly backing up their data to a secure, off-site location that's insulated from the main network.

Consider solutions like immutable backups, where the data can’t be changed or deleted. Regular disaster recovery drills are also key—when an attack happens, your clients need to be able to restore their data quickly with minimal downtime.

Exclusive Networks understands the critical role of data resilience. We advocate for robust backup solutions that ensure data integrity and facilitate quick recovery, minimising downtime and protecting business continuity for clients.

4. Train Employees and Raise Awareness

It’s become a cliche to say that humans are often the weakest link in cybersecurity, but that’s because it’s often the case. Attackers know this and often use phishing emails or social engineering to get in under the wire. Offering comprehensive training programs that teach employees how to spot and avoid these threats can make a big difference.

Keep the training up to date, and include everyone—from the front desk to the C-suite. Running simulated phishing attacks can also be a great way to test and reinforce what employees have learned.

By investing in client education, you reduce the risk of ransomware attacks and show that you’re a proactive partner in keeping their business safe.

5. Use Threat Intelligence and Automation

To stay ahead of ransomware, you need real-time, actionable threat intelligence. Incorporated as a machine readable feed, threat intelligence enables cyber security devices and platforms to adjust to new threats and threat vectors automatically.

MSSPs who monitor and analyse multiple client IT infrastructures can use SIEM tools to gather their own insights. For example an active threat detected in Client A’s infrastructure or networks can be analysed for its potential impact on Client B, C and D’s infrastructure, and proactive steps taken to neutralise it.

Incorporating these tools and services  into your offerings allows you to provide clients with cutting-edge protection that evolves with the threat landscape.

Exclusive Networks leverages advanced threat intelligence and automation tools, and comprehensive SOC services,to provide its partners with up-to-date insights and rapid response capabilities. This proactive approach ensures that clients are always a step ahead of potential ransomware threats.

Ransomware: Strategy, not just tools

Ransomware resilience isn’t just about having the right tools—it’s about building a strategy that adapts and grows as the cyber threat landscape changes. Channel partners who take a proactive, multi-layered approach can safeguard their clients while establishing themselves as trusted advisors. This not only helps protect clients but also drives loyalty, opens new opportunities, and fuels long-term growth. In today’s world, where cybersecurity is non-negotiable, being resilient against ransomware is what can set you apart in a crowded market.

Exclusive Networks' commitment to comprehensive, layered security solutions makes them a valuable ally for channel partners looking to offer top-tier ransomware protection. By integrating our resources and expertise, partners can not only protect their clients but also grow their businesses in a highly competitive market.

Learn more:

These Exclusive vendors are all leaders or challengers in the Gartner EPP Magic Quadrant.

• Fortinet
• SentinelOne