Use Preemptive Cyber Defense to Stop Ransomware and GenAI-Driven Attacks Before They Start 

Cybersecurity is undergoing a seismic shift.  

As I discussed in January, and as highlighted in this MSSP Alert article, the rise of AI-driven threats has made Anti-Ransomware through Preemptive Cyber Defense an absolute necessity rather than an option. Traditional detect-and-respond strategies are no longer sufficient to counter the speed and sophistication of adversaries exploiting AI and dynamic attack surfaces 

As attackers harness generative AI (GenAI) to evolve faster than ever, traditional detect-and-respond strategies are struggling to keep up. According to recent Gartner® research, reactive approaches alone can no longer meet the pace or sophistication of today’s adversaries. The call to action is clear: it’s time to move left of boom with Preemptive Cyber Defense. 

Our Perspective on Why Gartner® Thinks Preemptive Cybersecurity Is Critical 

In its April 2025 report Emerging Tech: Build Preemptive Security Solutions to Improve Threat Detection (Part 2)¹, we believe Gartner outlines how GenAI-powered threats now adapt in real-time, bypassing even advanced detection tools. These AI-driven attacks exploit dynamic attack surfaces, unpatched systems, and configuration blind spots—often before defenders are even aware of the exposure. 

We believe Gartner recommends integrating preemptive solutions like exposure management, automated moving target defense (AMTD), and advanced obfuscation to: 

• Disrupt and deny attackers before damage occurs. 
• Reduce alert fatigue by stopping attacks earlier in the kill chain. 
• Improve threat visibility and detection accuracy with minimal overhead. 

The Gartner report suggests that:

“While we’ve already acknowledged that advanced obfuscation technologies can serve as an effective early threat detection mechanism, their potential is significantly enhanced when integrated with other tools. By combining these obfuscation solutions with additional preemptive technologies — such as automated moving target defense (AMTD), advanced cyber deception and preemptive exposure management — product leaders can create a force multiplier effect. This integration results in more robust capabilities for defending against sophisticated, AI-enabled threats.”

This represents a fundamental shift: instead of chasing threats, organizations must now prevent them from executing in the first place. 

Enter Morphisec: Preemptive Cyber Defense in Action 

Morphisec has long championed this preventative mindset. At the core of our platform is Automated Moving Target Defense (AMTD), a patented technology that proactively reshapes application memory and system runtime environments. This dynamic, unpredictable surface makes it nearly impossible for malware—especially GenAI-driven or fileless attacks—to gain a foothold. 

With no reliance on signatures, heuristics or behavior-based models, Morphisec neutralizes threats at the earliest possible stage—before detection tools are triggered, before endpoints are compromised, and before alerts start piling up. 

One of the clearest use cases for preemptive defense is ransomware, where speed and stealth are everything. Morphisec’s Anti-Ransomware Assurance Suite combines AMTD with decoy files, zero trust enforcement, and real-time visibility to proactively disrupt ransomware attacks in progress. 

What you get with the Anti-Ransomware Assurance Suite: 

• Proactive ransomware prevention: All ransomware threats are neutralized before encryption or exfiltration attempts begin. 
• Fileless attack protection: Stops in-memory threats that traditional tools can’t see. 
• Real-time threat telemetry: Offers deep visibility without the noise of detection-based alerts. 
• Effortless integration: Enhances and fortifies your existing EDR/XDR stack. 

Instead of relying solely on alerts and logs to determine what went wrong after a breach, Morphisec ensures attacks never succeed to begin with. We’re so confident in our protection that we back the Anti-Ransomware Assurance Suite with a Ransomware Free Guarantee — if a Morphisec customer experiences a ransomware breach within the first six months, we’ll give them their money back.  

Bridging the Detection Gap 

Gartner emphasizes that preemptive exposure management is key to improving threat detection in today’s dynamic and AI-driven landscape. As attackers increasingly exploit unknown exposures and misconfigurations, organizations need real-time visibility and continuous validation of their attack surface—before a threat actor discovers the same weak points. 

This is where Morphisec’s Adaptive Exposure Management (AEM) solution plays a critical role. 

Morphisec AEM delivers continuous, contextualized visibility across your entire environment—without requiring persistent agents or manual tuning. It helps your team: 

• Uncover and prioritize exposures in real time. 
• Validate detection coverage by simulating adversarial behaviors. 
• Reduce alert fatigue by mapping alerts to real risk context. 
• Enrich your threat intelligence and inform proactive mitigation. 

AEM seamlessly integrates with your existing tools and workflows to illuminate blind spots, validate your defenses, and improve your ability to detect and prevent advanced threats before they escalate. 

By layering Morphisec AEM with our Anti-Ransomware Assurance Suite and AMTD technology, your organization gains a powerful, multi-layered, preemptive defense stack that aligns directly with Gartner® recommendations: deceive, deny, and disrupt attacks before they begin. 

The Future Is Preemptive 

As Gartner warns, by the end of 2026, vendors that fail to integrate preemptive capabilities may be left behind—risking customer attrition, breach incidents, and lost revenue. For CISOs and security leaders, the message is clear: if your strategy depends on detecting attacks after they happen, you’re already too late. 

Morphisec empowers your team with true prevention through a lightweight, battle-tested platform that stops attacks cold and eliminates ransomware risk at the source. 

Download a complimentary copy of the Gartner Emerging Tech: Build Preemptive Security Solutions to Improve Threat Detection (Part 2) report to learn more about AI-driven threats and the technologies your team can adopt to defend against them. 

References

¹Gartner Emerging Tech: Build Preemptive Security Solutions to Improve Threat Detection (Part 2) Luis Castillo, 02 April 2025 

GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally, and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved. 

This graphic was published by Gartner, Inc. as part of a larger research document and should be evaluated in the context of the entire document. The Gartner document is available upon request from Morphisec. 

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s Research & Advisory organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. 

About the author

Brad LaPorte

Chief Marketing Officer

Brad LaPorte is a seasoned cybersecurity expert and former military officer specializing in cybersecurity and military intelligence for the United States military and allied forces. With a distinguished career at Gartner as a top-rated research analyst, Brad was instrumental in establishing key industry categories such as Attack Surface Management (ASM), Extended Detection & Response (XDR), Digital Risk Protection (DRP), and the foundational elements of Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM). His forward-thinking approach led to the inception of Secureworks’ MDR service and the EDR product Red Cloak—industry firsts. At IBM, he spearheaded the creation of the Endpoint Security Portfolio, as well as MDR, Vulnerability Management, Threat Intelligence, and Managed SIEM offerings, further solidifying his reputation as a visionary in cybersecurity solutions years ahead of its time.