Your firewall may be doing its job, but ransomware doesn’t always need to break in. Increasingly, attackers are walking straight through the front door using stolen or misused credentials that appear completely legitimate. In the UK, 43% of businesses reported experiencing a cyber security breach or attack in the last 12 months, according to the Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025 [1]. In many of these incidents, compromised user access played a critical role.
When attackers gain valid login details through phishing, weak passwords, or poor access controls, they bypass perimeter defences entirely. Security tools often see nothing unusual at first because the activity looks like normal employee behaviour. This is why credential misuse has become one of the most effective delivery mechanisms for ransomware, allowing attackers to move laterally, escalate privileges, and deploy encryption payloads before organisations realise they are under attack.
This article explores how compromised credentials enable ransomware attacks, why traditional defences struggle to detect them, and what UK businesses can do to identify and stop these threats before serious damage is done.
What Are Insider Threats?
Insider threats emerge when someone with legitimate system access, whether through malicious intent or negligence, creates security vulnerabilities that attackers exploit. These risks include disgruntled employees deliberately sabotaging systems, staff members falling victim to phishing campaigns that hand over credentials, or former employees whose access wasn't properly revoked after departure.
Compromised user accounts often appear entirely normal to security tools because the credentials themselves are genuine. The challenge lies in distinguishing between legitimate business activity and suspicious behaviour patterns that signal an emerging threat, which is why organisations need visibility into how internal access is being used across their networks.
How Internal Access Enables Ransomware
Once attackers gain a foothold through compromised credentials or exploited insider threats, they use legitimate access to move deeper into your network undetected. Ransomware lateral movement occurs when attackers leverage one compromised account to access additional systems, escalating privileges along the way.
Privileged access misuse becomes particularly dangerous because administrative credentials can unlock sensitive data, disable security controls, and deploy malware across entire environments. Without robust identity and access management protocols monitoring who accesses what and when, ransomware can spread through your infrastructure using the very permissions designed to help employees do their jobs efficiently and effectively.
Real-World Insider Ransomware Scenarios
Consider a finance manager whose email is phished, giving attackers access to payroll systems and financial records. Or an IT administrator dismissed without immediate credential revocation, leaving privileged access misuse opportunities wide open. These insider threats and ransomware scenarios happen frequently.
Despite the rising risk of internal attacks, only 30% of UK small businesses currently monitor user activity [2], leaving a significant visibility gap that insiders or compromised user accounts can exploit to deploy ransomware. Shared administrative passwords, poorly documented access permissions, and remote workers using personal devices all create entry points that traditional perimeter defences simply cannot address effectively.
Signs Your Organisation May Be at Risk
So, how do you know if your systems have been compromised? Detecting insider threats before they escalate into ransomware incidents requires watching for specific warning signals that internal security monitoring can identify:
- Login attempts outside normal working hours or from unusual locations
- Sudden privilege escalation requests or unauthorised access to sensitive systems
- Large data transfers or downloads that don't match typical user behaviour patterns
- Multiple failed authentication attempts followed by successful access
Effective insider threat cybersecurity measures mean correlating these indicators to spot ransomware lateral movement early. Without continuous monitoring, suspicious activities blend into daily operations until attackers have already established persistent access and begun encrypting critical business systems.
Preventing Insider Threats and Ransomware
But how do you stop your business from reaching this point? Reducing your exposure to insider threats requires a layered approach combining technical controls with human awareness:
- Implement least privilege access, ensuring employees only access systems essential for their specific roles
- Deploy identity and access management solutions that enforce multi-factor authentication and regular credential reviews
- Deliver employee cybersecurity training that teaches staff to recognise phishing attempts and report suspicious activity
- Establish formal offboarding procedures that immediately revoke access when employees leave or change positions
These measures work together to create accountability, limit damage potential, and ensure your team becomes your first defence against ransomware rather than an inadvertent entry point.
Strengthening Internal Defences with MDR
Managed Detection and Response (MDR) services provide continuous oversight that most organisations struggle to maintain internally. These solutions monitor user behaviour patterns around the clock, flagging anomalies that signal cybersecurity risks before ransomware deploys.
MDR teams validate least privilege access configurations, support identity and access management implementations, and help tailor employee cybersecurity training to address specific vulnerabilities your business faces. When suspicious activity emerges, expert analysts investigate immediately, containing threats while your operations continue.
This proactive partnership transforms security from a reactive burden into a strategic advantage that protects your business without disrupting productivity.
Protect Your Business from Internal Ransomware Risks
Ransomware doesn't always announce itself at your firewall. It arrives through legitimate credentials, exploited permissions, or compromised internal accounts that bypass external defences entirely. Implementing least privilege access controls, robust monitoring, and regular employee cybersecurity training forms the foundation of effective insider threat protection.
Solace Cyber helps UK businesses detect suspicious internal activity before it escalates into full-scale ransomware incidents and get back on their feet through industry-leading ransomware recovery.
Our digital forensics teams identify vulnerabilities, contain threats rapidly, and restore operations with minimal disruption. For immediate support or to discuss how to enforce your existing safeguards, contact us through our website or call 01202 308818.
