While organizations invest millions in cybersecurity, their expensive perimeter security appliances are increasingly becoming their greatest vulnerability. A shocking 58% of ransomware claims in 2024 originated from compromised perimeter devices. These aren’t obscure products either – they’re the big names. Fortinet, Cisco, SonicWall, Palo Alto Networks, Microsoft. The very tools meant to keep attackers out are letting them waltz right in.
VPNs and firewalls top the list of compromised devices, with remote desktop products coming in second at 18%. It’s almost comical. Companies spend fortunes on these “security” products that turn out to be about as secure as a screen door on a submarine. Over 5 million internet-exposed remote management solutions are just sitting there, waiting to be exploited.
Security tools that cost millions yet protect your network like a paper umbrella in a hurricane.
And get this – more than 65% of businesses have at least one web login panel exposed to the internet. Brilliant.
Stolen credentials account for 47% of initial access, while software exploits make up 29%. Maintaining continuous attack surface monitoring is essential for identifying these vulnerabilities before attackers do. The total number of published vulnerabilities is expected to exceed 45,000 by 2025 – a 15% increase compared to early 2024. These aren’t just technical issues. They translate to real-world pain. Medium to large businesses face data breach losses exceeding £3.5 million. Operations shut down. Human safety gets compromised in OT environments.
The traditional perimeter-based security model is becoming obsolete anyway. Cloud computing, mobile devices, remote work – they all blur network boundaries. VPNs and tunneling tools intended to secure connections often create vulnerabilities in internal networks instead. Regular risk assessments are crucial for adapting to these rapidly evolving threats and identifying potential vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
Security experts are pushing for zero trust architecture, which enforces access controls on individual resources rather than perimeters. AI-driven security automation might help too. Recent Five Eyes intelligence advisories have warned about widespread exploitation of vulnerabilities in products like Ivanti Connect Secure.
But here’s the harsh reality: as long as organizations rely on perimeter devices that lack “secure by design” principles, they’re fundamentally installing the front door through which ransomware gangs will eventually enter.
