Sophos Study Reveals: 94% of Ransomware Targets Backup Data

TL;DR:

• 94% of companies hit by ransomware had their backups targeted by cybercriminals.
• The median ransom demand for compromised backups is $2.3 million, compared to $1 million for uncompromised backups.

Research from IT security company Sophos reveals that cybercriminals are increasingly targeting backups of organizations affected by ransomware attacks. When the backup data is compromised, the median ransom demand increases significantly, putting pressure on victims to pay up. The study also found that certain industries, such as state and local governments, are more at risk of having their backups targeted during ransomware attacks. To defend against such attacks, experts recommend strategies like the 3-2-1 backup plan, ensuring offline backups, implementing access controls, and regularly testing backup systems. It is crucial for organizations to strengthen their security measures to protect both production and backup data from ransomware attacks.