Ransomware remains a widespread threat with severe financial, operational, and human consequences.
In 2024, ransomware accounted for 70% of Sophos Incident Response cases among small businesses and over 90% among midsized organizations, underscoring its dominance as today’s most disruptive cyberthreat. And the financial impact is severe. Our annual State of Ransomware survey revealed that the average cost of recovering from a ransomware attack is now $1.53 million, while the average ransom payment comes in at $1 million.
In addition to these costs, attacks cause serious operational disruption and human consequences, ranging from lost productivity to increased stress for IT and cybersecurity teams. These impacts highlight the scale of the threat and underscore the urgent need for stronger ransomware defenses and recovery strategies. Alongside endpoint protection, an optimized network security stack is one of the most effective defenses against ransomware.
Use this guide to explore ransomware attack mechanics, prevention strategies, and how to optimize your network stack for maximum security.
