Why the Ingram Ransomware Attack Should Make You Rethink Who Holds Your Microsoft Licenses

When Ingram Micro, one of the largest IT distributors in the world, was hit by the SafePay ransomware attack, businesses across the globe felt the disruption. What seemed like a provider issue quickly became a wake-up call for companies that rely on indirect Microsoft licensing.

This event did more than interrupt services. It revealed just how much risk can come from not knowing who holds your Microsoft licenses.

The Hidden Risk of Indirect Licensing

The attack exposed risks tied to indirect Microsoft licensing. Most businesses don’t know where their Microsoft licenses are managed or who has access.

In many cases, licenses pass through multiple layers, such as large distributors and managed service providers (MSPs). That chain often looks like this:

Microsoft → Indirect Provider → MSP or IT Partner → Your Business

Indirect providers add extra layers that can increase vulnerability. If an indirect provider is compromised, your MSP or CSP may be impacted because delegated access allows them to manage your tenant. In Ingram’s case, the bad actors gained access through stolen VPN credentials, and the consequences cascaded down to customers who had no visibility or control over that risk.

Licensing as a Cybersecurity Issue

Microsoft licensing may feel like an administrative task, but in reality, your license management strategy is a core part of your cybersecurity posture.

• MSPs and CSPs often hold delegated access to your tenant. If their accounts are compromised, your environment could be exposed.
  
  

• Indirect providers introduce another layer of vulnerability that you cannot directly monitor or secure.
  
  

• A single weak link in this chain can compromise your entire business.
  
  

Where your licenses are managed — and who has access — directly affects your security.

The RyanTech Difference

RyanTech, a Tier-1 Microsoft CSP, works directly with Microsoft, reducing third-party exposure and providing the benefits of a direct relationship. Unlike providers who rely on distributors, we eliminate unnecessary layers that can create risk.

RyanTech’s modern security practices proactively block the kind of breach that hit Ingram. In their case, attackers gained access through stolen VPN credentials. At RyanTech, we do not rely on VPNs. Instead, we use strict authentication practices that close off this type of vulnerability.

Our security measures include:

• Location-based Authentication – Risky or suspicious logins are denied.

• Managed device policies: Devices are categorized as corporate or personal. Each set receives different levels of access and may be denied if its state is unknown or unsafe.

• Microsoft 365 E5 Microsoft Defender – Every device is equipped with enterprise-grade protection.

• OTP.ms for service accounts: Multi-factor Authentication with one-time passwords that are IMEI-bound to the correct person. This advanced security measure goes beyond traditional MFA, offering superior protection even against internal threats from your Managed Service Provider.

• Cloud Protect – Manages and protects your digital cloud against breaches, using AI to detect and stop threats.

• Cloud Protect Email Security – Prevents phishing attacks with nearly 100% accuracy.

With these controls in place, RyanTech ensures that your Microsoft environment is secured at every layer.

Time to Rethink Your Licensing Strategy

The Ingram Micro outage is more than an isolated incident. It is a warning for every business that depends on Microsoft licensing. If you do not know whether your licenses are managed directly by Microsoft or through an indirect distributor, your business could be more vulnerable than you realize.

With RyanTech, you can be confident that:

• Your licenses are purchased directly from Microsoft, not through a distributor
  
  

• Your environment is protected by strict authentication and device policies.
  
  

• Credential theft would be blocked by MFA, device validation, and Cloud Protect alerts.
  
  

Licensing is not just about keeping your software active. It is the foundation of your cybersecurity. Make sure it is in the right hands.

Ready to see how RyanTech can strengthen your security and simplify your Microsoft licensing? Request a demo today and let us show you the difference.