In the world of cybersecurity, one truth holds firm: cybercriminals will attack whenever they see opportunity. According to the New Semperis Ransomware Risk Report featured in The Peak Magazine, ransomware activity is far from random.
Instead, attackers time their strikes to coincide with moments when organisations are most vulnerable, including holidays, weekends, and major corporate transitions. The Peak Magazine
These insights underscore a critical reality for business owners and security leaders alike: traditional “Detect and Respond” strategies are no longer enough. With threats becoming more strategic and persistent, organisations must adopt more robust protection that stops attacks before they can take hold.
Ransomware Attacks Follow Predictable Patterns
The Semperis report’s key finding is sobering: cybercriminals prefer to strike during periods of reduced vigilance. Around 52 percent of ransomware incidents occur on holidays or weekends, when many companies reduce security staffing and monitoring. In Singapore specifically, where many organisations scale back their security operations centre (SOC) personnel during breaks, the number of holiday attacks reaches nearly 59 percent.
This is not a coincidence. Many organisations choose to cut back on security coverage to support employee work-life balance or simply because they do not expect attacks during these times. But attackers exploit exactly these assumptions.
What’s more, ransomware threats also increase during major organisational changes such as mergers, acquisitions, restructurings, and layoffs. When identity systems are being merged or governance structures are in flux, gaps and inconsistencies emerge. Attackers capitalise on those weak points, making these transitions prime windows for ransomware deployment.
The High Cost of Ransomware
Other industry sources backing the 2025 Semperis ransomware findings show just how severe the ransomware problem can be. A separate overview of the 2025 Ransomware Risk Report reveals that 78 percent of organisations surveyed were targeted by ransomware in the past year, and of those successful attacks, 69 percent resulted in ransom payments.
Perhaps even more disturbing is the fact that many companies face repeated attacks, with ongoing threats to their identity infrastructure such as Active Directory and cloud identity providers. Because identity systems are such a common attack vector, once attackers gain access they can penetrate deeply into networks before detection.
Ransomware is not just a momentary disruption; it is a sustained threat that can profoundly impact your business continuity, reputation, and bottom line.
The Limits of Detect and Respond
Traditional endpoint security strategies typically focus on “Detect and Respond.” That means monitoring systems for signs of compromise and then trying to contain or remediate the threat after detection. While this approach can be effective against some types of known threats, ransomware actors have evolved. These threats often embed themselves deeply into systems well before they activate encryption or extortion. By the time suspicious behaviour is detected, the damage may already be done.
Ransomware attackers now use sophisticated tactics such as timing attacks around organisational downtime and exploiting identity systems, meaning detection may happen too late to prevent a catastrophic outcome.
Why Business Owners Need Isolation and Containment
To defend against these relentless attacks, organisations must rethink their security posture. Instead of only relying on detection after compromise, businesses need proactive protection that isolates critical systems and contains threats before they erupt.
That is where AppGuard comes in.
With a 10-year track record of real-world success, AppGuard’s proven endpoint protection solution works by isolating and containing threats at the point of execution. Rather than waiting to detect suspicious behaviour, AppGuard prevents unknown or unauthorized code from executing at all. This barrier stops ransomware and other advanced threats in their tracks, protecting key systems and identity services that attackers most often target.
AppGuard does not rely on signatures or detection patterns. It protects by constraining what applications and processes are allowed to do. In a world where ransomware strikes during holidays, mergers, and other predictable windows of vulnerability, this containment-first approach is vital.
Taking Action Now
The findings from the Semperis report are clear: ransomware attacks are not random, and attackers are targeting moments when organisations are least prepared. Waiting to react after an attack has begun is no longer a viable strategy.
If you are serious about defending your business against ransomware and other advanced threats, it is time to move beyond traditional “Detect and Respond” security frameworks. Talk with us at CHIPS to learn how AppGuard’s Isolation and Containment approach can strengthen your cybersecurity posture and prevent the kinds of ransomware incidents highlighted in the Semperis report.
Contact us today to safeguard your business and stay ahead of evolving threats.
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