Nearly Half of MSPs Maintain a Ransomware “Kitty” That’s a Problem
According to a recent survey by Cybersmart in collaboration with OnePoll, nearly 45% of Managed Service Providers (MSPs) across the UK, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand have set aside dedicated funds, essentially a ransomware "kitty," in anticipation of paying off attackers (itpro.com).
Only 36% rely on cyber insurance, and 11% have neither insurance nor a budget for ransomware response, leaving them and their clients exposed to devastating financial and reputational damage.
Reactive Budgeting Is Not Enough, Proactive Strategy Is Key
This reliance on a reactive budget reflects a broader problem. MSPs and businesses remain trapped in a Detect and Respond mindset. They are reacting to threats rather than preventing them, and in some cases, they are planning to pay up when attackers strike. Governments and insurers increasingly discourage ransom payments because they fuel future attacks.
The same survey revealed that AI has emerged as the top concern for MSPs in 2025. 44% cite AI-driven threats such as deepfake phishing and AI-generated malware, compared to 40% who remain primarily worried about traditional ransomware. This shows how quickly the threat landscape continues to evolve.
Why Isolation and Containment Beats Detect and Respond
Rather than chase the latest threats, businesses need a fundamentally different defense paradigm. This should be grounded in Isolation and Containment rather than detection-based response.
AppGuard delivers exactly this. With a decade-long track record of preventing malware and zero-day exploits before they execute, AppGuard does not wait to detect threats. It blocks the very actions malware needs to succeed. It implements a true Zero Trust model where every application or process is considered potentially dangerous until proven safe, then confined or contained accordingly.
Unlike traditional antivirus and EDR tools that generate alerts and cause alert fatigue, AppGuard reduces cyber “noise,” lightens IT workloads, and ensures mission-critical systems remain operational even during attempted breaches.
Here is how AppGuard aligns with the shift your business needs:
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Prevents, does not just detect – blocks malware actions before they occur
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Kernel level containment and isolation – neutralizes threats without slowing endpoints
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Minimal impact on operations – lightweight policies adapt naturally to updates
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Enhances other tools – works alongside AV, EDR, and XDR, reducing their noise and improving overall cyber posture
With more threats emerging from AI-driven techniques, only a prevention-first approach like AppGuard offers a reliable defense.
Call to Action: Move Beyond Paying Ransoms
Business and MSP leaders must shift from Detect and Respond to Isolation and Containment and that starts with deploying AppGuard.
At CHIPS, we are ready to help you make that shift. AppGuard offers proven endpoint protection with over a decade of success and is now available for commercial adoption. Do not wait for your ransomware “kitty” to get depleted. Invest in prevention that contains.
Contact CHIPS today to start protecting your business with AppGuard and secure your future instead of funding attacker payouts.
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