Ransomware Surges 25% in October, Time to Shift to Containment

In October 2025, ransomware attacks surged by 25% compared with September, according to a recent report analysed by Comparitech and published via Industrial Cyber. (industrialcyber.co) This spike should ring alarm bells for business owners in manufacturing, healthcare, transportation and beyond.

Escalating Threats, Expanding Targets

Here are some of the key findings from the report:

• The number of recorded ransomware incidents climbed from 546 in September to 684 in October. 

• The healthcare sector experienced the largest month on month increase, up 115% (from 26 incidents to 56). 

• The transportation sector also saw a dramatic rise, 109% and retail similarly jumped 104%. 

• Manufacturing remains the most targeted single industry, accounting for nearly 19% of reported incidents (121) though its growth was more modest, 9%, compared with others. 

• One gang, Qilin, was responsible for 186 victim claims in October alone, more than any other group tracked. 

• The volume of data exfiltrated is staggering. In verified leaks, more than 162 terabytes of data were reported stolen, an average of about 516 gigabytes per breach. 

The takeaway is clear. The ransomware threat is not only growing in volume but also broadening in scope. Attackers are no longer limiting themselves to easy targets. They are increasingly focusing on critical sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing and transportation.

Why This Should Matter to Your Business

If you run or own a business in one of the high risk sectors, or you are part of a supply chain tied to those sectors, the implications are serious.

• Operational disruption: Ransomware in manufacturing or transport can halt production lines, delay shipments or obscure supply chain visibility.

• Data exposure: The stolen data volumes reported show that the attack surface emphasises not just encryption but theft and exfiltration.

• Regulatory and reputational risk: Especially in healthcare and critical infrastructure, a breach can lead to regulatory fines, legal exposure and loss of customer trust.

• Traditional protection gaps: Many cybersecurity tools still operate on detect and respond models. Identify the threat and then act. But when attackers are so fast and sophisticated, this reactive posture can leave you exposed.

The Problem with Detect and Respond

Detecting a threat and then responding is better than doing nothing, but it is increasingly insufficient in today’s threat environment. Attackers move quickly. They exploit zero days, chain vulnerabilities, use customised malware, or leap from one system to another, including through air gapped or OT/ICS environments. In many of these cases, by the time detection happens, significant damage might already be done, encryption, data exfiltration, or propagation across the network.

This means organisations need a shift in mindset. Rather than just reacting, they need to isolate and contain threats while they still can, stopping malware, ransomware or advanced attacks in their tracks before they spread and cause catastrophic damage.

Why the Proven Solution: AppGuard

For more than 10 years, AppGuard has built a track record of success in endpoint protection and it is now available for commercial use across all business sectors. Here’s why it stands out:

• Isolation and containment: AppGuard doesn’t wait for detection and alerts. It proactively isolates threats, preventing execution or lateral spread, effectively cutting off damage before it can escalate.

• Resilience across environments: Whether IT, OT, manufacturing systems, remote endpoints or air gapped systems, AppGuard supports environments where traditional AV/EDR tools struggle.

• Ease of deployment: Designed for real world business operations, AppGuard supports mixed environments and does not rely solely on signature based detection, making it more robust against zero day or file less attacks.

• Track record: Over a decade of real world deployments in sectors where uptime and resilience are critical.

• Business oriented value: For business owners focused on continuity, supply chain integrity and risk management, AppGuard aligns with strategic priorities, not just IT checklists.

What Business Owners Should Do Now

Given the data from the October surge and the perils of relying on reactive security alone, here are immediate steps you should consider:

1. Review your current endpoint protection strategy: If you’re predominantly using tools that detect threats then respond, you are exposed.

2. Map your critical assets and exposure: Which departments, systems, supply chains, or remote operations are most at risk? E.g., manufacturing control systems, logistics platforms, healthcare record systems.

3. Engage in a solution evaluation exercise: Look for tools that prioritise isolation and containment, not just detection.

4. Speak to experts: Get vendors, MSSPs or technology partners to demonstrate how the tool works in your environment and aligns with your business risks.

5. Make the shift: Adopt an endpoint protection platform, like AppGuard, that emphasises containment and resilience, so that you can stop the next wave of ransomware before it brings operations to a halt.

Why Partner with Us at CHIPS

At CHIPS we specialise in helping business owners, executives and IT decision makers navigate the shifting cybersecurity landscape. We understand that the conversation is not just about deploying tools, it is about aligning security strategy with business continuity, supply chain resilience and trust.

We can help you:

• Assess your risk profile in light of the surge in ransomware and attacks on manufacturing, healthcare and transportation industries.

• Evaluate how AppGuard would integrate into your organisation, including endpoints, remote staff, OT/ICS, supply chain partners.

• Design a deployment roadmap which reduces your reliance on detect and respond and moves toward isolation and containment.

• Measure ROI and business value: uptime, reduced attack surface, continuity of operations, not just avoided incidents.

Call to Action

Don’t wait for the next ransomware campaign to hit your doors. With attacks increasing 25% in a single month and the threat landscape evolving rapidly, there has never been a more urgent time to change your strategy.

Contact us today at CHIPS to talk about how AppGuard can protect your business through isolation and containment. Let’s work together to move beyond detecting threats and instead stop them before they stop your operations.

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