Ransomware is making a comeback. According to a recent article from the cybersecurity outlet B2B Cyber Security, 2025 has seen a clear and significant rise in ransomware incidents. The report highlights that 24 percent of companies were hit by ransomware this year, up from 18.6 percent in 2024. This reverses a multi-year downward trend and signals a renewed and growing threat. (Source: b2b-cyber-security.de)
Attackers are achieving this resurgence through a broader mix of tactics. Phishing remains the most common initial entry point at 46 percent, but compromised endpoints at 26 percent and stolen credentials at 25 percent are quickly closing the gap. These findings show that ransomware operators are diversifying their methods and targeting businesses with a wider set of tools.
Why This Surge Matters
The renewed growth of ransomware is not simply about more attacks. It reflects a more coordinated, technically advanced, and opportunistic approach by threat actors. The article outlines several trends that deepen the concern:
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Attackers are exploiting endpoint weaknesses and stolen credentials more frequently, taking advantage of automated scanning tools and rapid execution sequences.
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Phishing continues to thrive, boosted by AI assisted social engineering that makes malicious messages more believable than ever.
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Even organizations that invest in backups and recovery face downtime, data exposure, and financial loss because attackers often exfiltrate data before encryption.
The takeaway is clear. Ransomware is evolving faster than many organizations can adapt, and traditional cybersecurity strategies are struggling to keep up.
Detect and Respond Is No Longer Enough
Many businesses still depend on detect and respond tools such as antivirus, endpoint detection, monitoring, backup systems, and incident response plans. These solutions are valuable, but they come with serious limitations against modern ransomware:
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Detection relies on identifying malicious indicators, yet modern malware can remain hidden, encrypted, or completely unknown to signature based tools.
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Response takes place after an attack has already begun, which means encryption or data theft can occur before defenders have time to react.
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Backups help with recovery, but they do not stop downtime, stolen data, or extortion attempts.
Relying on detection models leaves organizations in a reactive position. Even the best detection tool cannot guarantee that an attacker will not slip through the cracks.
Isolation and Containment: A Stronger Path Forward
AppGuard provides a very different approach. Instead of trying to detect every possible threat, AppGuard uses isolation and containment to stop malicious actions before they can execute. This is a behavior based approach that prevents ransomware from gaining a foothold.
AppGuard has a proven 10 year track record of success, first in government and now available for commercial use. It blocks unauthorized actions at the process level, even if the malware is completely new or uses zero day techniques.
Key advantages include:
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No dependence on signatures or detection logic. AppGuard prevents harmful behavior rather than attempting to identify it.
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Zero trust rules on the endpoint. Unknown or suspicious processes are automatically contained.
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Minimal user impact. Legitimate workflows continue without interruption while malicious behavior is silently stopped.
This shift from detect and respond to isolation and containment gives businesses true prevention, not just reaction.
Why Businesses Should Act Now
With ransomware hitting nearly one in four companies in 2025, small and medium sized businesses are at particular risk. They often lack the internal resources to manage an attack, rebuild systems, handle negotiations, or recover quickly.
Waiting for a detection alert is risky. By the time an alert triggers, the damage may already be done. Isolation and containment prevents the attack from starting in the first place.
AppGuard delivers that level of protection.
Call to Action
If you are a business owner or IT leader, now is the right time to strengthen your defenses. Talk with us at CHIPS about how AppGuard can prevent ransomware incidents like the ones rising in 2025.
Make the move from detect and respond to isolation and containment.
Reach out to CHIPS today and protect your business before the next attack attempts to strike.
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