Securing Files to Prevent Ransomware

Ransomware attacks continue to escalate in frequency and sophistication, often resulting in operational disruption, data theft, and substantial financial losses. Traditional ransomware protections typically focus on detecting malware behaviour or blocking suspicious activity, but these methods do not guarantee the safety of the underlying data.

Attackers increasingly adopt double extortion tactics, stealing files before encrypting systems and threatening to leak them if a ransom is not paid. Even with effective endpoint protection, files stored in plain text remain vulnerable if an attacker gains access to the file system or network.

Encrypting files proactively is a strong defensive measure because it renders data unreadable to attackers, even if systems are compromised. If files are already encrypted using robust, organisation-controlled keys, ransomware actors cannot extract meaningful information or leverage stolen data for extortion. By limiting the attacker’s ability to monetise a breach, file-level encryption significantly reduces the overall impact of an incident. For organisations handling sensitive data such as intellectual property, health records, financial information, or regulated content thus ensuring files remain protected even in a compromised environment which is crucial for resilience and operational continuity

• Ransomware and extortion attacks account for ~60% of financially motivated cyber incidents.
• The average global cost of a ransomware breach exceeds USD 5 million.
• Data theft is involved in over 70% of modern ransomware cases

How Galaxkey helps protect against data loss in an Ransomware Attack

Galaxkey provides persistent file level encryption that protects data regardless of device, network, or application. Unlike disk-level encryption or network-layer controls, Galaxkey encrypts each file individually using identity-based encryption, ensuring attackers cannot read, sell, or weaponise stolen data. Even if ransomware encrypts systems or an attacker gains administrator access, Galaxkey protected files remain fully unreadable without the correct organisational keys.

Organisations retain full control of encryption keys, meaning no external entity, including Galaxkey can decrypt the files. This is essential in limiting the damage during a ransomware incident, preventing attackers from exploiting sensitive content for double-extortion. Galaxkey also supports Secure Workspace, enabling encrypted storage, collaboration, and sharing, ensuring files remain protected throughout their entire lifecycle. In addition, files can be monitored, version-controlled, and protected with Digital Rights Management (DRM) to enforce access restrictions. This prevents unauthorised copying or exfiltration, even by compromised internal accounts.

Galaxkey’s protection operates silently in the background, supporting seamless user workflows while significantly reducing ransomware exposure. By removing the attacker’s leverage and safeguarding the integrity of critical data, Galaxkey helps organisations maintain business continuity and reduce recovery costs.