Ransomware attacks are becoming an increasingly costly and pervasive threat to South African businesses. The State of Ransomware in South Africa 2025 report by Sophos, released today, reveals alarming trends that underscore the urgent need for robust cybersecurity measures. Drawing from responses by 154 local businesses hit by ransomware in the past year, the report highlights the financial and operational toll of these attacks. Here’s what South African organisations need to know to stay ahead of this growing epidemic.
A Sharp Rise in Ransom Payments
The financial impact of ransomware has skyrocketed in 2025. According to the report:
- 71% of organisations paid the ransom to recover encrypted data, a significant jump from 43% in 2024.
- The median ransom demand has surged from R2.8 million in 2024 to R18 million in 2025.
- The median ransom paid has nearly tripled, rising to R8.3 million from R2.8 million last year.
- The average recovery cost, excluding ransom payments, now stands at a staggering R24 million.
These figures highlight a worrying trend: more South African businesses are opting to pay ransoms, often due to inadequate preparation for recovery. This shift is compounded by a sharp decline in the use of backups, with only 35% of organisations relying on backups to restore data, down from 72% in 2024.
Data Encryption and Theft: A Dual Threat
The Sophos report reveals that 60% of ransomware attacks in South Africa resulted in data encryption, and in 39% of these cases, attackers also stole sensitive data. This combination of encryption and data theft amplifies the risk, as businesses face not only operational downtime but also potential regulatory penalties and reputational damage from data breaches.
Root Causes of Ransomware Attacks
The report identifies the primary entry points for ransomware attacks, emphasizing the importance of addressing basic security vulnerabilities:
- Compromised passwords were the leading cause, exploited in 34% of attacks.
- Vulnerable software was a factor in 28% of incidents, underscoring the need for timely patching.
- Malicious emails accounted for 22% of attacks, highlighting the ongoing threat of phishing and social engineering.
Operational challenges also play a significant role. A lack of cybersecurity expertise was cited by 58% of respondents, while 55% pointed to insufficient protection measures. Additionally, 53% of businesses admitted to being unaware of security gaps that attackers exploited. These findings indicate that many organisations are under-resourced and lack visibility into their attack surface.
The Human Toll of Ransomware
Beyond the financial and technical impacts, ransomware is taking a significant toll on IT and cybersecurity teams. The report notes:
- 76% of IT teams experienced increased pressure from senior leadership following an attack.
- 47% reported heightened anxiety and stress about future incidents.
- 42% faced a sustained increase in workload, pushing many teams to the brink of burnout.
This human factor underscores the need for a holistic approach to cybersecurity that supports both technology and the people behind it.
Building Cyber Resilience in 2025
The Sophos report serves as a wake-up call for South African businesses. To combat the rising ransomware threat, organisations must adopt a layered security strategy. Key recommendations include:
- Strengthen Authentication: Use strong, unique passwords and enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) across all systems.
- Patch Promptly: Regularly update and patch software to close vulnerabilities before attackers can exploit them.
- Enhance Email Security: Deploy advanced email filtering and educate employees on recognizing phishing attempts.
- Invest in Resilient Backups: Ransomware commonly targets your backup systems before your production environment ensuring that you don’t have a recovery plan. It is important that you have a backup solution which remains unaffected by the threat of ransomware. Maintain regular, tested backups to ensure rapid recovery.
- Leverage Expertise: Partner with managed detection and response (MDR) services to augment in-house capabilities and provide 24/7 threat monitoring.
Take Action with Netelligent Consulting
The ransomware landscape in South Africa is evolving rapidly, and no business is immune. At Netelligent, we specialize in helping organisations assess their cybersecurity risks and build resilient defences tailored to their needs. Don’t wait for an attack to expose your vulnerabilities, act now to protect your business.
Contact us today to schedule a comprehensive risk assessment and learn how we can help you stay one step ahead of cybercriminals in 2025.
Sources: Sophos State of Ransomware in South Africa 2025 Report
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