Ransomware attacks are becoming more sophisticated, well-funded, and difficult to detect until significant damage has been done. At their core, ransomware attacks pose a persistent threat to data integrity and business continuity–typically involving malicious software that encrypts files or entire systems, rendering them inaccessible until a ransom is paid.
For businesses of any size, a single successful ransomware attack can lock up critical systems, compromise sensitive data, halt essential business operations, and cause long-lasting reputational harm.
While attackers grow stealthier, more automated, and more aggressive in their tactics, their methods of entry remain largely unchanged. Phishing emails with malicious attachments are still the most common vector, followed closely by unpatched software vulnerabilities and exposed or poorly secured remote access systems.
1. Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS): The affiliate model has turned ransomware into a scalable business, making it easier for low-skilled actors to launch sophisticated attacks using tools, support, and infrastructure provided by more advanced groups, who then share a cut of the ransom amount. This model increases the volume of attacks, lowers the technical barrier to entry, and makes attacks harder to trace back to a single group.
2. Double and Triple Extortion: Attackers are using multi-layer extortion tactics that go beyond simply encrypting files. In addition to encrypting files, attackers exfiltrate data and threaten to leak it–known as double extortion–if ransom payments are not made. Some attackers go even further by pressuring victims’ customers, launching DDoS attacks, or notifying regulators–triple extortion–to increase leverage and force faster payment.
3. Targeting Critical Sectors: Ransomware operators increasingly target critical sectors such as healthcare, government agencies, manufacturing, construction, and cloud service providers–industries highly sensitive to downtime and storing valuable data.
4. Fragmented and Fast-Moving Ecosystem: After law enforcement takes down major ransomware groups, their members often rebrand or regroup into smaller, more agile groups. This makes them harder to track, faster to act, and more unpredictable.
5. Attacking Supply Chain and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) Providers: Rather than targeting high-profile organizations directly, attackers increasingly exploit SaaS vendors, service providers, contractors, or cloud environments to reach multiple victims through a single point of entry.
6. Living-off-the-Land (LOTL): To avoid detection, attackers often use legitimate, vulnerable components already present in the environment–such as built-in drivers–and employ LOTL techniques. Techniques like LOTL attacks, which are fileless, blend in with normal activity and help the attackers maintain persistent access without triggering traditional defenses.
Common Ransomware Groups in 2025 and Their Tactics
Below are five of the most active or common Threat Actors in 2025, and a summary of their common techniques.
Ransomware GroupNotable Tactics & TraitsTypical Targets
AkiraVPN exploitation, credential dumping, RDP misuse, data exfiltration via Rclone, double extortion, cross-platform support, Living-off-the-Land (LOLBins)Manufacturing, Healthcare, SMBs, Software and IT Services, Agriculture and Food Production, Transportation / Logistics
Qilin (originally known as Agenda)Compromised Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) credentials, customizable encryption configurations, supporting AES-256, ChaCha20, and RSA-4096, in-memory payloads to delete Windows event Logs and Volume Shadow Copies (VSS)Mid-sized to Large Enterprises, Critical Infrastructure, Healthcare, Financial Services, Education, Manufacturing
Luna Moth (aka Silent Ransom Group)Social engineering calls and Callback phishing emails, privilege escalation, data exfiltration through WinSCP or Rclone, RMM tools (e.g., AnyDesk)US-based Law Firms, Medical and Insurance Industries, Financial Services, Accounting & Auditing Firms
INC RansomRaaS model, phishing campaigns, exploitation of known vulnerabilities, double extortion, Living-off-the-Land (LOTL), lateral movement via RDP/PsExec, data exfiltration with MEGASync double extortionHealthcare, Education, Government, Critical Infrastructure, Mid-sized to Large Organizations, Insurance Carriers, Legal Services
PlayExploiting vulnerabilities in Fortinet SSL VPNs and Microsoft Exchange servers, PowerTool to evade detection and maintains access with SystemBC RAT, credential harvesting, Cobalt Strike for lateral movement, double extortion through custom tool (Grixba) for data exfiltrationHigh-Value Industries, such as Healthcare, Financial Services, Manufacturing, Technology, Government, Critical Infrastructure, Public and Private Sector
Cyber Resilience Strategies
Building cyber resilience isn’t just about preventing attacks, it’s about ensuring your organization can withstand, recover, and adapt quickly when threats emerge. Organizations with strong cyber resilience can quickly recover from ransomware attacks, often restoring critical systems in hours or days instead of weeks. Rapid recovery minimizes operational downtime and business disruption, making it more effective than prevention alone in today’s threat landscape. Demonstrating preparedness and the ability to respond swiftly not only protects brand reputation but also reinforces trust with customers, investors, and regulators–helping organizations maintain confidence even in the wake of a successful attack. Below are some practical steps organizations can take to improve cyber resilience:
1. Protect Data at Every Stage: Secure data in transit and at rest using a combination of endpoint protection, network segmentation, and immutable, air-gapped backups. Use microsegmentation to contain breaches and limit lateral movement. Regularly test your backup restoration process to ensure your recovery time objectives (RTOs) are realistic and achievable.
2. Lock Down and Monitor Remote Access Paths: Remote access is a common attack vector. Limit access based on roles, location, and time. Enforce multi-factor authentication for Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), SaaS apps, and all other remote access platforms. Patch vulnerabilities promptly and continuously monitor for abnormal sessions.
3. Harden Identity and Access Controls: Adopt a zero-trust mindset to enforce least privilege, eliminate shared or local admin accounts, and implement just-in-time (JIT) access for elevated permissions. Continuously monitor for credential dumping, brute-force attempts, and anomalies in authentication behavior to catch intrusions early.
4. Get Proactive with Threat Intel and Red Teaming: Stay ahead of threats with updated threat intelligence and regular red/purple team exercises to uncover hidden weaknesses. Proactively hunt for early indicators of compromise, like unexpected processes, new accounts, or unsigned drivers to detect and respond before damage is done.
Conclusion
Ransomware in 2025 is more sophisticated, organized, and relentless than ever, leveraging automation, social engineering, and supply chain infiltration to maximize impact. However, while the threat landscape continues to evolve, your defenses can too. Building true cyber resilience means going beyond prevention by ensuring rapid recovery, continuous monitoring, and proactive threat intelligence so your organization can stay ahead of attackers and minimize disruption when incidents occur.
Do not wait for an attack to test your resilience. Our cybersecurity experts can help assess your ransomware readiness, strengthen your defenses, and build a recovery strategy tailored to your organization’s needs.
Contact us today to schedule a ransomware resilience assessment and take the next step toward a stronger, more secure future.