Preemptive Cyber Defense Innovation: Morphisec AMTD Outpaces Sophisticated Threats 

As generative AI (GenAI) continues to reshape the cyber threat landscape, the need for preemptive cybersecurity technologies has never been greater. According to a recent Gartner^® report, traditional detection and response strategies are increasingly inadequate against advanced, AI-enabled threats. Morphisec has been identified by Gartner as an innovator in preemptive cybersecurity with its pioneering Automated Moving Target Defense (AMTD) technology. Read on to learn how AMTD is supporting the preemptive cyber defense revolution. 

Addressing GenAI-driven threats: the case for AMTD 

GenAI has enabled attackers to bypass traditional defenses with unprecedented speed and sophistication. In-memory, ransomware, and fileless attacks are now often evasive and undetectable by conventional endpoint detection and response (EDR) and extended detection and response (XDR) solutions. This shift demands a proactive approach to cybersecurity—one that not only detects threats but disrupts them before they can gain a foothold. 

According to Gartner, “Emerging GenAI-driven threats are challenging traditional detection and response strategies. Preemptive cybersecurity technologies, like advanced deception and predictive threat intelligence, offer enriched insights that significantly enhance existing security controls and improve cyber defense capabilities.”¹ 

AMTD achieves this by continuously reshaping key system elements like runtime memory. This “morphing” process creates an ever-changing attack surface, making reconnaissance efforts ineffective and neutralizing threats before they can execute. Unlike traditional defenses that rely on signature-based detection, AMTD proactively defends against zero-day vulnerabilities and fileless malware, offering a robust countermeasure to the evolving GenAI threat landscape. 

Core benefits of Morphisec AMTD  

1. Catching Evasive and Undetectable Threat Techniques 

One of Morphisec’s standout capabilities is its ability to thwart advanced memory-based attacks, a technique often used in ransomware and fileless malware campaigns. By dynamically altering the memory layout of systems, Morphisec prevents attackers from executing malicious code, regardless of whether the attack vector is known or unknown. 

This capability is particularly valuable in environments with legacy systems or software that no longer receive security updates. For example, Morphisec protects unsupported operating systems by creating an impenetrable defense layer, reducing the reliance on patches or signature updates. Organizations that continue to use legacy hardware can then maintain robust security without incurring additional costs for system upgrades. 

With Morphisec AMTD, these capabilities don’t require additional resourcing. In fact, AMTD doesn’t generate false alerts and doesn’t create a need to investigate, analyst or remediate threats, which takes significant burden off IT and security teams. 

2. Ensuring Scalability Across Cybersecurity Capabilities 

As organizations grow, so does the complexity of their IT environments. Scalable solutions are critical to maintaining a consistent security posture across distributed networks, cloud environments, and hybrid infrastructures. 

Morphisec AMTD integrates seamlessly with existing security stacks, including EDR platforms like Microsoft Defender. This interoperability allows organizations to layer AMTD on top of their existing defenses, creating a multi-layered “defense-in-depth” strategy. Additionally, Morphisec’s lightweight agent ensures minimal performance overhead, making it suitable for both small businesses and large enterprises. 

TruGreen, a leading lawn care service provider, replaced multiple agents with Morphisec’s solutions, achieving significant reductions in false positives and enhancing their overall security efficiency.  

The company realized a 2.3x return on investment while cutting software costs by two-thirds and slashing false positives by 95 percent. 

The company experienced other benefits too—TruGreen brings in an objective third party each year to conduct penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities that cybercriminals could exploit.  

“This year, for the first time, we were able to prevent the tester from cracking into one of our endpoints,” said Ryan Pagan, Cybersecurity Engineer at TruGreen.

“After implementing Morphisec, the tester couldn’t figure out what was keeping him from breaking in. He spent several hours attempting to crack our security but couldn’t figure it out. The tester said to us, ‘Normally, we can get around endpoint security stuff, but we couldn’t get around Morphisec.'” 

Its added value and scalability make Morphisec an ideal choice for organizations seeking to unify their cybersecurity capabilities without introducing operational bottlenecks. 

3. Maximizing ROI Through Cost-Effective Deployment 

Cybersecurity investments are facing greater scrutiny due to budget constraints and the challenge of quantifying ROI. Morphisec addresses this by offering solutions with low entry costs and streamlined deployment processes. Its SaaS-based platform requires only a simple agent installation, avoiding the need for extensive infrastructure changes. 

Morphisec’s prevention-first approach reduces incident response costs by neutralizing threats before they escalate. For organizations that have suffered from the financial and reputational impacts of successful breaches, this capability delivers tangible value. The reduction in false positives also alleviates the burden on security teams, allowing them to focus on strategic initiatives rather than being overwhelmed by noise. 

Adopting a preemptive cyber defense approach 

We feel the Gartner report underscores a broader industry shift toward preemptive cybersecurity strategies, with technologies like AMTD set to dominate the market by 2030.  

Gartner notes that:

“By 2030, preemptive cybersecurity technologies will be included in 75% of security solutions that are currently focused solely on detection and response. Product leaders must take advantage of emerging technologies in this space to seize business opportunities and capitalize on this imminent shift.”¹ 

As organizations recognize the limitations of traditional detection and response, preemptive solutions are gaining traction for their ability to offer: 

• Proactive defense — By disrupting attackers throughout the kill chain, AMTD significantly reduces the likelihood of successful breaches. 
• Ease of deployment — Solutions like Morphisec’s are designed for rapid implementation, making them accessible to organizations with limited IT resources. 
• Scalability and flexibility — Cloud-native architectures enable seamless scaling, ensuring consistent protection across diverse environments. 

The future of cybersecurity is AMTD 

Morphisec’s AMTD technology exemplifies the transformative potential of preemptive cyber defense. By stopping evasive threats, ensuring scalability, and maximizing ROI, Morphisec not only strengthens an organization’s security posture but also sets a new standard for cost-effective, proactive defense. 

As cyberthreats continue to evolve, embracing innovative technology like Morphisec’s pioneering AMTD will be essential for organizations aiming to stay ahead of attackers. For security leaders seeking to modernize their defenses, now is the time to explore the game-changing capabilities of preemptive cyber defense technologies. 

Download a complimentary copy of the Gartner Tech: Tech Innovators in Preemptive Cybersecurity report to learn more about preemptive cyberdefense technologies including AMTD. 

¹Gartner®, Emerging Tech: Tech Innovators in Preemptive Cybersecurity, Luis Castillo, Isy Bangurah, 8 January 2025   

GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark and Hype Cycle is a registered trademark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved.     

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.    

About the author

Brad LaPorte

Chief Marketing Officer

Brad LaPorte is a seasoned cybersecurity expert and former military officer specializing in cybersecurity and military intelligence for the United States military and allied forces. With a distinguished career at Gartner as a top-rated research analyst, Brad was instrumental in establishing key industry categories such as Attack Surface Management (ASM), Extended Detection & Response (XDR), Digital Risk Protection (DRP), and the foundational elements of Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM). His forward-thinking approach led to the inception of Secureworks’ MDR service and the EDR product Red Cloak—industry firsts. At IBM, he spearheaded the creation of the Endpoint Security Portfolio, as well as MDR, Vulnerability Management, Threat Intelligence, and Managed SIEM offerings, further solidifying his reputation as a visionary in cybersecurity solutions years ahead of its time.