Many security experts agree that ransomware is the greatest cybersecurity threat organizations face today. Ransomware attacks nearly doubled in the first half of 2021, compared to 2020. In a recent Sophos survey, 37 percent of respondents said they were affected by ransomware in the past year. The National Security Institute estimates that the average ransom demand is now $200,000, compared to $5,000 in 2018.
In August, the Louisiana coast was devastated by Hurricane Ida, which damaged thousands of businesses along with homes and basic infrastructure. Many of those businesses experienced extended downtime that severely impacted their operations.