State Of Ransomware Report 2024
The fifth Sophos annual study of the real-world ransomware experiences of organizations around the globe explores the full victim journey, from root cause through to severity of attack, financial impact, and recovery time. Fresh new insights combined with learnings from our previous studies reveal the realities facing businesses today as well as how the impact of ransomware has evolved over the last five years.
This year’s report also incorporates brand new areas of study, including exploration of ransom demands vs. ransom payments, together with a heightened focus on the impact an organization’s revenue has on their ransomware outcomes. Plus, for the first time, it shines a light on the role of law enforcement in ransomware remediation.
A note on reporting dates
To enable easy comparison of data across our annual surveys, we name the report for the year in which the survey was conducted: in this case, 2024. We are mindful that respondents are sharing their experiences over the previous year, so many of the attacks referenced occurred in 2023.
About the survey
The report is based on the findings of an independent, vendor-agnostic survey commissioned by Sophos of 5,000 IT/cybersecurity leaders across 14 countries in the Americas, EMEA, and Asia Pacific. All respondents represent organizations with between 100 and 5,000 employees. The survey was conducted by research specialist Vanson Bourne between January and February 2024, and participants were asked to respond based on their experiences over the previous year. Within the education sector, respondents were split into lower education (catering to students up to 18 years) and higher education (for students over 18 years).
You may be interested in
Beyond Copilots: Why AI Agents Are the Next Competitive Advantage
AI is no longer a tactical tool, it’s becoming the engine of enterprise transformation. While copilots and other generative AI tools have helped teams work faster, the real breakthrough is happening with AI agents: autonomous systems that don’t just assist but act, learn and orchestrate entire workflows across the business. The question every executive should be asking is: “How will we harness AI to create value at scale before our competitors do?” High-performing organisations aren’t waiting. They’re embedding AI agents into daily operations and seeing measurable impact; accelerated decision-making, leaner processes and stronger financial outcomes. When markets move at digital speed, standing still means falling behind. Here’s why: So, the question isn’t “Should we adopt AI?”, it’s “What could…
Zero Trust Networking
Protecting Employees Without Friction Your workforce is your greatest asset, and your greatest vulnerability. Attackers know this, which is why phishing and credential theft remain the most common entry points. But here’s the leadership challenge: how do you protect employees without slowing them down? Zero Trust answers that question by making security invisible yet uncompromising. Employees work from anywhere, home, client sites, airports, without clunky VPNs or endless password resets. Behind the scenes, every login is verified, every device assessed, every anomaly flagged. If something looks wrong, a compromised credential, an unusual location, the system reacts…
Shadow AI: Executive Briefing on Real Risks, Business Impact and Mitigation
Shadow AI is here, and it’s growing Shadow AI is the use of artificial intelligence tools and platforms outside the oversight of IT, security, or compliance teams. This is not a hypothetical concern. KPMG’s 2025 global survey found that up to 58% of employees are using AI productivity tools daily, and nearly half admit to uploading sensitive company information to unauthorised platforms. Only 41% of employees say their organisation has a policy guiding the use of generative AI, revealing a significant governance gap. The Risks Are Real and Substantial The evidence from leading analysts and recent incidents is clear:…
Cyber Resilience in 2025: From Tick-Box to Boardroom Imperative
What the NCSC’s 2025 Review Means for UK Businesses The National Cyber Security Centre’s (NCSC) 2025 Annual Review is a wake-up call for business leaders across the UK. The days when cyber security was simply an IT concern or a routine compliance task are over. With a record number of nationally significant cyber incidents handled in the past year (more than double the previous year’s figure), it is clear that cyber risks have become a central issue for organisational survival and national prosperity. The Evolving Threat: Why Businesses Can’t Afford Complacency No sector has been spared in the latest…
Is Your MSP Really Helping You Grow — Or Just Keeping the Lights On?
There’s a moment in every business where the question quietly surfaces: “Are we getting what we really need from our IT provider?” It’s not always easy to answer. On the surface, things seem fine. Tickets are resolved. Reports arrive. There’s someone to call when things go wrong. It’s familiar. It’s comfortable. And that comfort can be deceiving. Because beneath the surface, many organisations are stuck in a service relationship that feels safe — but is actually stagnant. And here’s the truth: comfort isn’t the same as progress. For many, the idea of changing MSPs or challenging the…
The 2025 State of Ransomware: Key Insights on Attacks, Costs, and Recovery
Ransomware continues to evolve — and so must our defenses. The State of Ransomware 2025 report from Sophos presents one of the most comprehensive views yet into how organisations around the world are being impacted by ransomware attacks. Based on an independent survey of 3,400 IT and cybersecurity leaders across 17 countries, the report explores how attacks are evolving, the operational weaknesses adversaries exploit, and the human and financial tolls that follow. Whether you’re building a cybersecurity strategy or assessing risk, this year’s findings offer crucial, real-world insights to guide your response. Key Findings from…