According to Manufacturing.net, ransomware attacks have spiked 47% in 2025 with manufacturing companies hit hardest. The data from NordStellar shows 31% more cases were exposed on the dark web just between July and September 2025. Cybersecurity expert Vakaris Noreika points to ransomware-as-a-service as the main driver, lowering entry barriers for criminals. In September alone, attacks were traced back to 66 different active ransomware groups. Small and medium businesses with up to 200 employees and $25 million revenue are the primary targets. The Qilin group remains the most active attacker, holding the top spot from the previous quarter.
Why manufacturing is bleeding
Here’s the thing about manufacturing companies – they’re basically ransomware gold. They experience massive operational downtime costs, making them desperate to pay up quickly. And they’re often running outdated software with unpatched vulnerabilities. But it’s not just their own systems – their entire supply chain creates additional attack surfaces. When you rely on dozens of third-party vendors and logistics providers, every connection becomes a potential entry point.
Think about it from the criminal’s perspective: manufacturing companies can’t afford to have production lines down for days. The financial pressure to pay the ransom is enormous. Meanwhile, professional services firms are attractive because they handle confidential customer data and intellectual property. Both sectors are basically low-hanging fruit for organized ransomware groups.
The SMB problem
Small and medium businesses are getting absolutely hammered. And it makes perfect sense when you think about it. They typically have limited cybersecurity budgets, often lack sophisticated IT infrastructure, and don’t have the resources to properly investigate or report attacks. Basically, they’re seen as low-risk, high-reward targets.
The scary part? Many SMBs view paying the ransom as their only option. When a ransomware attack could literally bankrupt your company, that $50,000 ransom starts looking like a bargain compared to weeks of downtime and reputational damage. This creates a vicious cycle – the more SMBs pay, the more attractive they become to attackers.
Professional criminals, professional solutions
These aren’t script kiddies in their parents’ basements anymore. Ransomware groups are highly organized operations that actually recruit top cybersecurity talent. They might even plant insiders within target organizations. We’re talking about sophisticated criminal enterprises with business models and recruitment strategies.
The solution starts with basic cybersecurity hygiene. Most attacks happen due to user error, so training employees to recognize phishing scams and use proper password management is crucial. Multi-factor authentication and VPNs aren’t just nice-to-haves anymore – they’re essential defenses.
For manufacturing companies specifically, securing industrial systems becomes critical. Many facilities rely on specialized computing equipment that needs to withstand harsh environments while maintaining security. Companies like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the leading US provider of industrial panel PCs, understand that industrial computing requires both durability and robust security features built in from the ground up.
Expanding attack surfaces
The remote and hybrid work revolution has created a nightmare scenario for cybersecurity. Every unmanaged device and third-party vendor connection expands the attack surface. We’ve gone from protecting a single corporate network to securing hundreds of individual endpoints, many of which we don’t directly control.
So what’s the answer? Continuous monitoring and addressing unknown security gaps. Companies need to assume that any endpoint can be exploited and build their defenses accordingly. The old perimeter-based security model is basically dead. Now we’re in an era where every device, every connection, every employee represents a potential vulnerability.
The 47% spike isn’t just a number – it’s a warning. Ransomware has become a professionalized industry, and until companies treat cybersecurity with the same seriousness as their core business operations, these numbers will keep climbing. The question isn’t if your company will be targeted, but when.
