How to Reduce Your Ransomware Risk in 2025

Based on new research by the Ponemon Institute, 88% of organizations suffered an attack last year. 58% had to halt operations, a drastic increase of 45% in just a few years.

Ransomware is more than just a cybersecurity problem — it’s a business crisis.

Ransomware attacks are evolving rapidly, becoming more disruptive and expensive to recover from. But businesses that shift from purely preventative security to a containment-based approach can significantly reduce their exposure and minimize the impact of an attack.

In a recent webinar by Illumio, Ransomware by the Numbers: Insights, Trends, and Strategies for 2025, Dr. Larry Ponemon, founder of the Ponemon Institute, and Trevor Dearing, industry solutions marketing director at Illumio, shared key insights from The Global Cost of Ransomware Study.

Here’s what the latest data reveals and what security leaders need to do to stay ahead.

The current reality: why ransomware is worse than ever

Ransomware attacks are escalating in speed, sophistication, and financial impact. Some of the most concerning findings from the study include:

• The financial toll is staggering: Recovering from an attack costs organizations an average of $146,685, and that’s not counting the reputational damage or customer churn.
• Operational downtime is unavoidable: A quarter of critical systems go offline for approximately 12 hours during an attack.
• The recovery process is resource-intensive: Organizations need an average of 17.5 staff members working over five days (132 hours) to restore systems.
• The broader business impact is severe: 45% of companies experience major revenue loss, 41% lose customers, and 40% are forced to downsize their workforce.

It’s clear that traditional cybersecurity approaches aren’t keeping pace. Prevention alone isn’t enough anymore. Businesses must focus on resilience and rapid containment.

Why ransomware is still so effective

If organizations know ransomware is such a threat, why is it still so successful? The answer lies in common security gaps and evolving attack techniques.

1. Unpatched systems provide easy entry points

Many organizations struggle with timely patching, leaving vulnerabilities open for exploitation. Cybercriminals use automated tools to scan for outdated systems, often breaching networks within minutes.

2. Lateral movement expands the damage

Once inside, ransomware doesn’t just stay in one place. It moves laterally across the network.

According to the report, more than half of ransomware incidents spread to multiple systems, amplifying the impact. Without strong segmentation or access controls, a single compromised device can lead to widespread disruption.

3. Hybrid environments increase complexity

With many businesses operating across both cloud and on-premises environments, security visibility becomes a challenge.

The report found that 35% of organizations lack comprehensive visibility into their hybrid networks, allowing ransomware to spread undetected.

4. Ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) is fueling more attacks

Cybercrime has become a business in itself. Attackers now sell ransomware toolkits and services to anyone willing to pay, making it easier than ever for inexperienced actors to launch attacks. This has led to a dramatic increase in ransomware incidents worldwide.

5. AI-driven attacks are harder to defend against

Cybercriminals are leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance ransomware effectiveness. AI-powered malware can quickly identify valuable targets, adapt attack methods in real time, and maximize damage before detection. Security teams must now defend against threats that are not just automated but also intelligent.

The most effective ransomware defense: breach containment

The reality is that no organization can completely prevent every ransomware attack. But what separates businesses that recover quickly from those that suffer catastrophic losses is containment.

Many security strategies focus on blocking ransomware at the perimeter. But once an attacker gets inside, the damage escalates quickly.

Instead, organizations need to assume breaches will happen and design their security to limit how far an attack can spread.

This is where microsegmentation plays a crucial role. By segmenting networks and restricting access between systems, businesses can contain ransomware and stop it from moving laterally. Even if one system is compromised, microsegmentation ensures the attack doesn’t reach mission-critical assets.

As part of a Zero Trust strategy, microsegmentation provides a strong defense against ransomware. This keeps threats contained and minimizing operational disruption.

The cost of inaction against ransomware is too high

The numbers make it clear. Ransomware isn’t slowing down, and organizations that don’t adapt will face severe consequences.

The good news? A containment-first security approach can dramatically reduce risk. Businesses that move beyond a prevention-only mindset and focus on breach containment will be better positioned to withstand and recover from ransomware attacks.

Ransomware isn’t going away, but with the right strategies, organizations can ensure they aren’t held hostage by cybercriminals.

For more insights into the growing ransomware threat and how businesses are fighting back, download The Global Cost of Ransomware Study.