493.33 million. That’s how many ransomware attacks were detected in 2022. 64%. That’s how many companies have had at least one ransomware attack over the past year. 71%. That’s how many companies paid either part or all of the ransom.
Then, towards the end of 2022, ransomware slowed down. The statistics reflected a significant dip in the number and volume of attacks. The collective corporate world held it’s breath. Then, as of March 2023, there was what Security Intelligence has dubbed a ‘ransomware renaissance’. There were 400 attacks in March and the IBM Security X-Force Threat Intelligence Index 2023 found that the most common threat vector was a backdoor attack.
But wait, there’s more. Even though many of the threats were mitigated - the IBM report found that 67% of the backdoor attacks were failed ransomware attacks - the landscape is intensely challenging and changing. For example, the speed at which ransomware attacks gain access to systems has radically changed. In 2019, it took an average of two months for a ransomware to deploy but in 2023 it takes less than four days. What’s more, ransomware-as-a-service groups have become more prevalent, rising from 19 groups providing the service in 2021 to 31 in 2022.
Companies facing this onslaught are also often caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place when it comes to ransomware payments. Do they pay and get their systems back online and the business moving forward? Or do they find another way of ridding themselves of the malware? This is further complicated by the fact that there is no guarantee that the cybercriminals will unlock the data if the ransom is paid and by the changing nature of the threat - many attackers are simply using the ransomware to gain access to confidential data and then not bothering with encrypting it. They just threaten to release the data unless ransom is paid.
What all of this data points to is one very important question - is your business ransomware ready?
Is it ready to deflect the attacks thanks to a robust security system and solid security hygiene?
Which is where Strategix comes in. Our strategy is to provide you with robust ransomware protection and best-in-class security to ensure your organisation is ransomware ready. Our free ransomware readiness checklist is designed to help you assess your organisation and your levels of protection around your critical data, systems and infrastructure so you can make informed security choices moving forward.
Our ransomware service gives you the tools and security you need to recover instantly from ransomware with robust data protection as a service and to implement a solid and trusted ransomware recovery strategy. The goal is to be prepared for the inevitable while still stopping the criminals in their tracks and staying ahead of the threats. And we can help you achieve this goal with our dedicated ransomware protection services and capabilities.
