Protect Your Cloud Data: How Superna Defender for AWS Detects and Mitigates Ransomware Threats

Introduction

Ransomware threats have evolved, and cloud-based storage like Amazon S3 is increasingly at risk. Organizations need advanced tools to detect, respond to, and recover from these attacks. Superna Defender for AWS offers cutting-edge ransomware protection tailored to object storage and file environments, ensuring your data remains secure in the face of modern cyber threats.  The product is a native Cloud application deployed directly from the AWS Marketplace.  Deploys in minutes and supports true consumption-based billing that appears on your AWS bill.   Only pay for the data you are protecting. 

Why Cloud Storage is a Prime Ransomware Target

Over the past five years, ransomware attacks on organizational data have skyrocketed. Initially focused on file-based storage, attackers have shifted their sights to cloud-based data stores like Amazon S3 and Azure Blob Storage. A ransomware attack on object storage shares some similarities with traditional filesystem attacks but differs in critical areas, including:

• Means of delivery
• Speed of attack
• Methods of recovery

Superna Defender for AWS assists in the detection, response, and recovery of these attacks, including the most common vector: encryption-key-based ransomware attacks. Learn more about a recent example of such attacks.

Characteristics of Ransomware

Ransomware attacks follow a familiar pattern:

1. A nefarious actor gains unauthorized access to an organization’s data.
2. They leverage content encryption feature of the S3 service to encrypt data, making it inaccessible without the attacker’s secret encryption key.
3. The attacker sells this secret—usually a cryptographic key—to the organization in exchange for a ransom.

How KMS-Based Attacks Work

Amazon KMS (Key Management Service) allows users to create and control encryption keys for their data stored on Amazon S3. Attackers exploit this service by gaining unauthorized access to the KMS console, typically via:

• Phishing attacks
• Obtaining credentials
• Misconfigured roles or permissions

Once inside, attackers can create a new encryption key or use an existing one to re-encrypt the data, effectively rendering it unreadable without the new key. Unlike traditional ransomware, this approach leverages server-side copy operations, enabling attackers to encrypt vast amounts of data rapidly using S3’s own storage servers. This method eliminates the need for external programs and relies solely on S3’s API limits.

Detecting and Mitigating Ransomware with Superna Defender for AWS

Superna Defender for AWS analyzes patterns of data access and is specifically tuned to detect KMS-based attacks. It addresses both fast and slow attack strategies:

• Fast Attacks: Large-scale encryption executed rapidly to cause immediate damage.
• Slow Attacks: Gradual encryption designed to evade detection while targeting archival or infrequently accessed data.

Superna Defender monitors data access patterns, logs activity, and triggers alerts when suspicious behavior is detected. It can also automatically lock out offending users when attack severity exceeds a defined threshold. Whether attackers act quickly or over time, Superna Defender ensures that your data remains secure.

Comprehensive Cloud Security with Superna Cyberstorage

Cloud storage must be protected at every layer. Superna’s market-leading Cyberstorage family of products offers:

• Comprehensive Coverage: Security for file and object storage across on-premise and cloud environments.
• Seamless Integration: Operates within existing SIEM, SOAR, and Incident Response tools.
• Compliance: Aligns with NIST Cyberstorage and DORA frameworks for standardized security.

Superna is the only vendor providing end-to-end protection for file, object, on-premise, and cloud storage through a unified solution managed from a single pane of glass.

Review our list of vendor integrations here.

Conclusion

Ransomware attacks are growing more sophisticated, targeting cloud storage environments with increasing frequency. Superna Defender for AWS delivers the tools you need to detect, respond to, and recover from these threats efficiently. By seamlessly integrating into your existing security ecosystem, Superna offers unparalleled data protection, reducing risk and ensuring business continuity. Take control of your cloud security today with Superna Defender for AWS.