Small Business, Big Risk: Understanding today's ransomware threats
Ransomware is no longer just a threat facing large corporations. A 2025 report found that ransomware was involved in 88% of data breaches affecting small businesses,1 making it one of the most significant cyber risks that organizations face today.
According to the report, small businesses were also found to have experienced breaches at nearly four times the rate of larger organizations.
Increasingly, criminals are using "double extortion" tactics, stealing sensitive information before locking systems, giving them additional leverage to demand payment. This creates pressure on businesses facing both operational disruption and potential reputational damage.
Why attackers are targeting smaller businesses
Cybercriminals know that for smaller businesses, even a brief disruption can have serious consequences, with the costs extending beyond the ransom itself, often including lost productivity, recovery expenses and reputational harm.
In addition, many small and mid-sized businesses have fewer dedicated cybersecurity resources than larger organizations. And even a short disruption can have a major impact on operations, revenue and customer service. Cybercriminals know this and see these targets as more likely to pay a ransom to restore access to critical systems and data.
How ransomware has become a big business
Today’s ransomware environment consists of specialized groups, many of which operate like legitimate businesses while selling tools, stolen credentials and access to compromised systems. This has made ransomware easier to deploy, more profitable than ever and harder to defend against.
Their model is highly sophisticated and often includes:
- Operators who develop new tools and package them into kits they can sell. They run campaigns and manage negotiations, deciding whether to sell the data, leak it or hold it for ransom.
- Affiliates who distribute the ransomware and split the profits with the operators.
- Developers, data brokers and service providers, including those who facilitate VPNs to help hide scammers’ identities, create phishing scams and convert ransom payments into cash.
How to reduce your risk
Most attacks have a similar start:
- Phishing emails that trick employees into clicking malicious links
- Stolen or weak passwords
- Compromised remote access tools
- Schemes like Business Email Compromise, where scammers impersonate leadership, vendors or another trusted contact to convince an employee to redirect or approve a payment quickly
While no business is immune, proactive steps can significantly strengthen your defenses.
- Require multifactor authentication on all business accounts.
- Train employees to recognize phishing attempts.
- Establish "External" email flags to help employees identify potential phishing risks.
- Keep software and systems updated.
- Back up critical business data regularly and test recovery procedures.
- Limit access to sensitive systems and information.
- Establish an incident response plan before an attack occurs.
Your security is our priority
At Columbia Bank, we're committed to helping you stay informed and protected against evolving fraud threats. Contact our Treasury Management Team today to learn about additional tools we offer that can help keep your money safe and your business resilient.
If you suspect fraudulent activity, contact us immediately at 866-563-1010. We’ll help protect your accounts and provide important next steps.
1 Verizon 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report
