Veeam Report Reveals Persistent Cyber Threats: Why 70% of Organizations Are Still Vulnerable Despite Improved Defenses
In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, cyber threats continue to escalate in sophistication and frequency, leaving organizations grappling with the daunting challenge of safeguarding their data. A new report by Veeam Software, the global leader in Data Resilience, sheds light on these alarming trends and underscores the urgent need for robust data resilience strategies. Released at VeeamON 2025, the “From Risk to Resilience: Veeam 2025 Ransomware Trends and Proactive Strategies Report” highlights critical insights into the current state of ransomware attacks and offers actionable steps for organizations to strengthen their defenses, mitigate risks, and recover more effectively.
The Persistent Threat of Ransomware
Despite improvements in cybersecurity measures, ransomware remains a pervasive threat. The report reveals that 69% of organizations were impacted by ransomware attacks in the past year, a slight decline from 75% the previous year. This reduction is attributed to enhanced preparation, improved resilience practices, and increased collaboration between IT and security teams. However, the threat remains substantial, with smaller ransomware groups and “lone wolf” attackers filling the void left by disrupted major players like LockBit and BlackCat.
“While organizations are improving their defenses, 7 out of 10 still experienced an attack in the past year,” said Anand Eswaran, CEO of Veeam. “Of those attacked, only 10% recovered more than 90% of their data, while 57% recovered less than half. These findings underscore the importance of transitioning from reactive security measures to proactive data resilience strategies.”
Key Trends Shaping the Cybersecurity Landscape in 2025
The Veeam report identifies several critical trends that organizations must address to stay ahead of evolving threats:
1. Law Enforcement Disrupts Major Ransomware Groups
In 2024, coordinated efforts by law enforcement agencies significantly disrupted major ransomware groups like LockBit and BlackCat. However, this has led to the rise of smaller, decentralized groups and independent attackers, necessitating ongoing vigilance.
2. Rise of Exfiltration-Only Attacks
A troubling trend identified in the report is the increase in exfiltration-only attacks, where cybercriminals steal sensitive data without encrypting or locking it. These attacks target personal data, financial records, and intellectual property, exploiting vulnerabilities within hours. Organizations with weak cybersecurity measures are particularly at risk.
3. Declining Ransom Payments
The total value of ransomware payments fell in 2024, with 36% of affected organizations opting not to pay a ransom. Of those that did, 82% paid less than the initial demand, and 60% paid less than half the requested amount. This highlights the growing importance of robust recovery strategies over capitulating to attackers.
4. Legal Consequences of Ransom Payments
New regulations and legal frameworks are discouraging ransom payments. Initiatives like the International Counter Ransomware Initiative urge organizations to prioritize strengthening their defenses rather than funding criminal enterprises.
5. Collaboration Reinforces Resilience
Enhanced communication between IT operations and security teams, along with partnerships with law enforcement and industry players, has proven vital in fortifying defenses against ransomware.
Budgets Increase but Gaps Remain
While organizations are allocating more resources to security and recovery efforts, there remains a significant gap in investment relative to the growing threat landscape. The report emphasizes that organizations prioritizing data resilience can recover up to seven times faster and experience significantly lower data loss rates. Successful organizations share common attributes, including:
- Robust backup and recovery strategies
- Proactive security measures
- Effective incident response plans
The report encourages organizations to adopt the 3-2-1-1-0 data resilience rule, ensuring backups are immutable and free from malware before restoration.
Confidence vs. Reality: A Wake-Up Call
Pre-attack confidence among ransomware victims often doesn’t align with reality. While 69% believed they were prepared before being attacked, their confidence plummeted by over 20% post-attack, revealing significant gaps in planning. Alarmingly, while 98% of respondents had a ransomware playbook, less than half included key technical elements such as:
- Backup verifications and frequencies (44%)
- A pre-defined “chain of command” (30%)
Notably, CIOs experienced a 30% decline in their preparedness rating post-attack, compared to a 15% drop for CISOs, suggesting that CISOs have a clearer understanding of their organization’s security posture. These findings highlight the importance of fostering organizational alignment and conducting regular training and exercises to ensure a coordinated response during and after an attack.
Actionable Steps for Organizations
To combat the growing threat of ransomware, Veeam recommends the following proactive strategies:
- Adopt a Data Resilience Mindset: Shift from reactive security measures to proactive data resilience strategies.
- Invest in Strong Recovery Solutions: Ensure backups are immutable, regularly tested, and free from malware.
- Foster Collaboration: Strengthen communication between IT operations and security teams, as well as partnerships with law enforcement and industry players.
- Implement the 3-2-1-1-0 Rule: Create multiple copies of data across different mediums and locations, with one air-gapped or offline copy.
- Regular Training and Testing: Conduct frequent simulations and drills to prepare teams for real-world scenarios.
Building a Resilient Future
As the nature and timing of cyberattacks continue to evolve, organizations must prioritize proactive data resilience strategies to mitigate risks and recover swiftly from incidents. By investing in robust recovery solutions, fostering collaboration, and adopting best practices, businesses can significantly reduce the impact of ransomware attacks.
