Ransomware in 2025: Cost, Trends, and How to Reduce Your Risk

88% of organizations were hit by ransomware last year. 58% had to shut down operations — a 45% jump in just a few years.

Ransomware attacks are getting faster, costlier, and harder to recover from. But organizations that take a proactive, containment-focused approach can dramatically reduce the impact.

In our latest webinar, 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, break down key ransomware trends from The Global Cost of Ransomware Study.

Here’s what the numbers reveal about ransomware and what you can do about it.

The current state of ransomware

Cybercriminals are getting smarter, and ransomware attacks are becoming more expensive and disruptive. Here’s what the data shows:

• Recovering from an attack costs an average of $146,685—not including lost customers or damage to a company’s reputation.

• 25% of critical systems go down for at least 12 hours during an attack.

• It takes 17.5 people more than five days (132 hours) to fully recover. Acting fast is crucial.

• Ransomware has serious business impacts: 45% of organizations lost significant revenue, 41% lost customers, and 40% had to cut jobs.

The message is clear: traditional cybersecurity isn’t enough. Prevention alone is failing. Organizations must focus on containment and resilience.

What’s driving the ransomware surge?

Larry and Trevor discussed how ransomware remains so effective because of smarter attackers and persistent security gaps. Here are the top vulnerabilities they highlighted from the research that attackers are taking advantage of:

1. Unpatched systems make easy targets

Many organizations struggle to update their systems on time. Hackers know this and use automated tools to find and attack outdated software in minutes.

This is one of the easiest ways for ransomware to spread. Not patching isn’t just a small mistake. It’s like leaving the front door wide open for cybercriminals.

2. Fast lateral movement

Ransomware comes in many forms. But there’s one thing all ransomware has in common: it wants to move.  

Once inside, attackers move laterally through the network, gaining access to important data and causing more damage.

Based on Ponemon's findings, more than half of ransomware attacks now spread to multiple systems, infecting large parts of the network. Without barriers like network segmentation or strong access controls, one infected device can quickly turn into a full-blown crisis.

3. Attacking hybrid systems

Today’s mix of cloud and hybrid environments make security more complex and thus more challenging.  

According to the report, 35% of organizations lack visibility across their hybrid environments. Many organizations can’t fully see what’s happening across their networks, giving attackers a chance to sneak in unnoticed.

As Trevor pointed out in the webinar, ransomware can quietly spread to cloud systems and critical apps before launching a full attack. Without real-time insights, organizations remain vulnerable.

4. Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS)

Ransomware is now a business. Cybercriminals sell ransomware kits and services to anyone, even those with little hacking experience, making it easier than ever to launch attacks.

Because of this, ransomware attacks have skyrocketed. As Larry noted, it’s no longer just expert hackers behind these threats — it’s a booming cybercrime industry.

5. AI-powered attacks

Attackers are using AI and automation to make ransomware faster and harder to stop. AI-powered ransomware can find valuable targets, change tactics on the fly, and strike at the perfect time to cause the most damage.

While security teams use AI to defend networks, hackers use it to attack, turning cybersecurity into a constant battle of offense and defense.

The path forward: Breach containment with microsegmentation

Ransomware is inevitable. But a breach doesn’t have to mean disaster.  

The difference between organizations that survive and those that suffer irreparable damage comes down to one thing — containment.

Traditional security strategies focus on prevention, blocking attacks before they happen. But as hackers get smarter, it’s not enough. Organizations need a defense strategy that assumes breaches will happen and works to limit the damage.

Attackers rely on open networks. Once inside, they try to spread to other systems through lateral movement. But microsegmentation stops them in their tracks.

By using microsegmentation as part of a Zero Trust security strategy, organizations can contain breaches and reduce their impact. Even if attackers break in, they won’t be able to move to other critical systems.

The high cost of ignoring ransomware

If there’s one thing the numbers make clear, it’s that organizations that assume they won’t be hit by ransomware are the ones hit hardest.

The good news is that ransomware resilience is achievable.  

By shifting from a mindset of “prevention at all costs” to containment-first security, organizations can reduce downtime, cut financial losses, and protect their reputation. In 2025, the strongest cybersecurity strategy is one that assumes the breach and stops it in its tracks.

Ransomware isn’t going away. But neither is the ability to fight back. The organizations that thrive will be the ones that take action now.

For deeper insights, watch the full Ransomware by the Numbers webinar and download The Global Cost of Ransomware Study to see the full picture of ransomware’s impact.