---
title: "Ransomware and Lateral Movement Security"
description: "Prevent ransomware and lateral movement with UserLock. Apply MFA on all connection types, on UAC prompts, and limit access with contextual access policies."
locale: "en"
updated_at: "2025-06-18T13:50:49.210Z"
canonical: "https://www.isdecisions.com/en/userlock/solutions/ransomware-lateral-movement-security"
---

# Ransomware and lateral movement security

_Use Case_

Block ransomware spread and lateral movement at the first step: the logon. With UserLock, help prevent attacks and protect sensitive data by enforcing identity and session-based controls.

## Why status quo access security fails to stop ransomware and lateral movement

After the initial breach, ransomware attacks rely on valid credentials to move laterally through the network, often escalating privileges.

Every Windows logon represents a potential attack path. Key risks include:

- Shared or reused Microsoft account credentials across users or systems
- Insecure remote access (VPN, RDP, unmanaged devices)
- Security gaps between legacy systems and cloud-based identity platforms

## How UserLock prevents lateral movement

Reduce attack surface, stop identity sprawl, and give the security team visibility into every session, every login. UserLock turns each AD access event into a policy-based, highly visible event.

- Enforce MFA on UAC prompts
- Apply contextual access controls
- Stop concurrent logins
- Block or logoff users with suspicious access

UserLock sits at the Active Directory authentication layer thanks to a custom Windows credential provider. Built for AD, UserLock lets you set access policies by AD user, group, and OU. 

**It’s easy to use, easy to scale, and keeps IT in control.**

## Comprehensive access security

### Verify AD identities with granular MFA

Apply strong authentication across access to legacy systems and SaaS apps with hardware keys or TOTP. MFA on UAC (user account control) prompts defeats privilege escalation attempts.

### Extend strong authentication to SaaS access

Enable single sign-on (SSO) for AD identities to extend on-prem authentication from local systems to SaaS resources. Users enter their password once at login, complete strong authentication, and gain access to SaaS apps.

### Apply context-based controls

Block login attempts automatically from unknown machines, IP addresses, or geolocations. Limit concurrent sessions to keep threat actors from using stolen login credentials to exploit open sessions.

### Monitor access in real time

See all access attempts across your on-prem and hybrid AD, and set up alerts for instant detection and prevention. Remotely block sessions or logoff users to respond to suspicious activity and cut off lateral movement techniques.

### Audit protected Windows access

Get accurate insights on all AD account access with tamper-proof, searchable audit logs.

### Report on all access

Capture user login and session history with centralized, filterable reports. Satisfy incident response teams and prove compliance to auditors.

## Why IT security teams choose UserLock for ransomware and lateral movement security

#### Simple, effective MFA

Add hardware, TOTP, or push-based MFA without disrupting how users sign in.

#### Limit concurrent logons and sessions

Allow a set number of initial access points, and choose to block concurrent logons. Policies follow AD users, groups, and OUs for easy setup and clean audits.

#### No cloud lock-in

Bring modern controls to on-prem AD, terminal servers, and legacy apps. Keep infrastructure costs down and close key identity security gaps.

#### Privilege abuse safeguards

Apply MFA on, get alerts for, and report on UAC (User Account Control) prompts to stop privilege escalation.

#### Instant visibility and response

Monitor logon behavior for signs of credential misuse or lateral movement patterns.

#### Audit-ready reports

Create searchable, filterable reports of all login events to prove you enforce required security policies.