Cost of Ransomware for Businesses in 2025 and How to Avoid It

Ransomware attacks aren’t new. But in 2025, the costs and the consequences are hitting harder than ever for businesses. According to Sophos, the median cost of ransomware paid by businesses has nearly doubled in 2025, and recovery costs now average around £2 million. For many businesses, it’s not just about prevention, but also about having the right systems, backups and response plans in place to minimise disruption.

The focus now is on building the right defences and having a clear plan in place when things go wrong. The good news? With the right preparation, businesses can reduce both the risk and the impact of ransomware.

Why Ransomware Still Finds a Way In

There are many reports that highlight several (common) reasons why ransomware is having a greater impact in 2025. Many businesses are still running outdated or unsupported systems. Others lack the in-house business security expertise to identify risks before they escalate. And in some cases, there’s a false assumption that cloud providers fully cover ransomware recovery, which they don’t.

For sectors like retail and hospitality, the stakes are even higher. A few hours of downtime during trading hours can lead to thousands in lost sales, missed bookings and reputational harm that’s hard to undo.

Also read: Windows 10 End-of-Life: 5-Step Plan to a Seamless Windows 11 Migration

How Ransomware Attacks Usually Happen

Most ransomware incidents follow a familiar pattern. The good news? That makes them easier to prevent, if you know where to look. Common attack methods in 2025 include:

• Exploited vulnerabilities in unpatched software
• Phishing emails that trick users into clicking on malicious links
• Compromised credentials due to weak passwords or lack of multifactor authentication (MFA)
• Poor endpoint visibility in hybrid and remote environments

In many cases, attackers don’t need to be advanced; they just need an unlocked door.

Business Impact After the Attack

Aside from the immediate financial hit, ransomware can trigger a ripple effect across the entire business. Downtime, cancelled transactions and interrupted operations often lead to significant revenue loss. When customer data is involved, the reputational damage can be serious, affecting trust and long-term loyalty. Internally, many IT teams experience high levels of stress and burnout following an attack. For small and mid-sized businesses, these impacts are not just short-term; they can shape the organisation’s future resilience and stability.

How to Strengthen Your Defences

Ransomware may be evolving, but so are the tools to stop it. Prevention, visibility and response are all essential and manageable with the right support. Here’s where to start:

• Patch regularly – unpatched software remains the #1 attack route
• Use multifactor authentication (MFA) across all access points
• Back up your data frequently, and test your ability to restore it
• Invest in endpoint protection and threat detection to spot issues before they escalate
• Provide user training, especially for spotting phishing attempts
• Consider Managed Detection and Response (MDR) for round-the-clock threat monitoring

Remember: Cloud-based tools don’t automatically mean secure. Many cloud providers operate under a shared responsibility model, meaning your data protection is still your responsibility.

A Smarter, Managed Approach to Ransomware Resilience

While UK businesses are paying more than most, they’re also getting better at recovery. According to the Sophos report, 60% of organisations were able to fully restore operations within a week, up from just 38% the previous year. That’s a clear sign that preparation pays off. Protecting against ransomware doesn’t have to mean overhauling your IT overnight. In fact, some of the most effective changes are small, strategic shifts, like reviewing patching processes, improving visibility or adding off-site backups.

At Retail Assist, we help retail and hospitality businesses build resilience against cyber threats through practical, cost-effective managed services. Whether you need help closing security gaps, reducing downtime risk or supporting your internal IT team, we’re here to support. Need a quick health check on your ransomware readiness? We’ll help you spot any gaps and stay secure.

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