Ransomware Tales: ThreatLocker’s Rob Allen Breaks Down Real-World Attacks
At XChange March, Rob Allen, chief product officer at ThreatLocker, delivers a candid and technical look at the real-world tactics behind modern ransomware attacks and how MSPs can better defend themselves and their clients. In his keynote, Allen explains that many successful attacks begin with vulnerabilities that go unpatched or unsecured RDP ports—issues that persist even in 2025. Attackers often sell access on the dark web, making victims part of a well-funded and deliberate supply chain of exploitation. Allen emphasizes that the first sign of compromise is often a simple IP scanner, followed by reconnaissance of backup systems, file shares and even cyber insurance documents.
Allen urges MSPs to protect every device—not just most—and to treat their own networks with the same level of scrutiny as their customers’. “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link,” he says. ThreatLocker’s built-in application controls, Storage Control, and new additions like patch management and Office 365 detection are designed to reduce attack surfaces and stop threats before they escalate. With ransomware actors more persistent than ever, Allen’s message is clear: harden your defenses, understand the methods of attack, and don’t wait until it’s too late.