• Concerted efforts needed to enhance cyber resiliency, and the imperative for organisations to prioritise proactive cybersecurity measures.
• Organisations can fortify their defences against ransomware attacks and mitigate the detrimental impact on their operations and personnel.

Ransomware, a persistent threat to organisations, continues to be a significant cause of IT outages and downtime, with 81 per cent of organisations surveyed paid the ransom to end an attack and recover data for the third year in a row, as outlined in the latest Veeam 2024 Ransomware Trends Report.

This alarming statistic highlights the vulnerability of organisations to substantial data loss and negative business repercussions.

One in three organisations that paid the ransom still could not recover even after paying amid 41 per cent of data being compromised during cyberattacks.

The report further reveals that only 57 per cent of the compromised data is successfully recovered, underscoring the critical need for proactive cybersecurity measures.

Dave Russell, Senior Vice President and Head of Strategy at Veeam, emphasised that ransomware remains a prevalent issue affecting a majority of organisations, with 3 out of 4 entities falling victim to such attacks in 2023.

AI leads to sophisticated security measures

The evolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has led to the development of more sophisticated security measures, but it has also empowered threat actors to enhance the complexity of their attacks. This escalating threat landscape necessitates a strategic approach to cybersecurity resiliency and emphasises the significance of rapid and effective data recovery mechanisms.

The Veeam 2024 Ransomware Trends Report, compiled insights from 1,200 participants.

The report highlights that 45 per cent of respondents’ experienced heightened pressure on IT and security teams post-attack, leading to disruptions in productivity and service delivery.

The toll on individuals is equally significant, with increased workloads, heightened stress levels, and personal challenges exacerbating the aftermath of cyber incidents.

Robust cybersecurity measures

Despite an increased emphasis on cybersecurity preparedness, organisations continue to struggle with alignment between their backup and cybersecurity teams.

The persistent lack of synchronisation between these crucial functions underscores the necessity for enhanced coordination and collaboration to effectively combat ransomware threats.

“A majority of security professionals and backup administrators recognise the need for substantial improvements in team alignment and system integration to bolster cyber defence strategies,” report said.

An intriguing revelation from the report is the inefficacy of ransom payments as a recovery strategy. This recurring pattern emphasises the limitations of ransom payments as a viable recovery solution and underscores the importance of robust cybersecurity measures to prevent and mitigate ransomware incidents.

Furthermore, the report challenges the common assumption that cyber insurance guarantees ransom payment success. Contrary to expectations, a substantial number of organisations with cyber insurance coverage still chose to pay ransoms out of pocket, reflecting a disconnect between insurance policies and actual recovery outcomes.

While cyber insurance can offset some financial burdens associated with cyber incidents, it may not cover the entirety of costs incurred, with ransoms representing only a portion (32 per cent) of the overall financial impact post-attack.

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