Is Your Business Truly Ready for a Ransomware Attack? Here’s Why Most Aren’t
Paige Leach
Marketing Executive
With cyber threats increasing in frequency and sophistication, ransomware attacks have become an unavoidable risk for businesses of all sizes. Could your company recover from an attack today? Or would you be among the 60% of organisations shut down within six months of a significant cyber incident?
Many businesses believe they are prepared. They have backups, security tools, and an incident response plan. Yet, when ransomware strikes, they find themselves locked out, scrambling for solutions, and facing a ransom demand that could hinder their operations. The truth is, traditional recovery strategies are failing against modern ransomware tactics, leaving businesses vulnerable to costly downtime, data loss, and operational chaos.
The Harsh Reality of Ransomware Recovery
Ransomware is evolving beyond simple encryption. Attackers are no longer just locking files; they are targeting backups, threatening to leak stolen data, and ensuring recovery is as tricky as possible. Many companies assume their backups will save them, only to discover that the ransomware has already infiltrated and corrupted them before the attack is even detected.
Even for organisations that consider paying the ransom, recovery is not guaranteed. In many cases, attackers either vanish after receiving payment or demand even more, leaving companies with no data and no way forward. Businesses that attempt recovery on their own often face weeks—sometimes months—of disruption, trying to rebuild their systems while operations remain at a standstill.
Another significant issue is that many companies have an incident response plan on paper but have never tested it in a real-world scenario. When a ransomware attack occurs, confusion occurs, teams aren’t sure of their roles, and critical hours are lost, increasing the financial and reputational damage. Without a recovery plan that has been tested and refined, companies are left vulnerable to mistakes that prolong downtime and increase losses.
How to Ensure a Fast and Ransom-Free Recovery
Recovering from a ransomware attack without paying the ransom requires a modern, battle-tested approach to backup and recovery. The key is ensuring that backups are truly secure, inaccessible to attackers, and instantly recoverable when needed. Immutable storage—where backup data cannot be altered or deleted—always ensures a clean restore point, even if ransomware spreads throughout the network. Air-gapped backups, which are physically or logically separated from the leading network, add an additional layer of security, preventing attackers from corrupting them.
Beyond secure backups, companies need a recovery system designed for speed. Traditional backups often take days or weeks to restore, which is far too long for businesses that must be operational immediately. With an instant recovery solution, companies can restore their systems within hours, reducing downtime and minimising financial impact.
However, technology alone isn’t enough. The most resilient businesses actively test and refine their recovery plans. Running tabletop exercises and real-world ransomware simulations allows organisations to identify gaps, train their teams, and ensure that everyone knows exactly what to do when an attack happens. Companies that take a proactive approach to testing their defences recover faster and with fewer long-term consequences.
Preparation is the Difference Between Survival and Catastrophe
Businesses that assume they are safe without testing their recovery plans are the ones that suffer the most. Organisations that survive ransomware attacks with minimal damage have prepared for the worst. They have tested, isolated, and secured their backups. They have instant recovery technology in place. They have trained teams that know exactly how to respond when ransomware strikes.
Cybercriminals are always looking for their next target.
The question is: Will your business be ready when they come for you?