If you think ransomware won't affect MSPs and their customers in 2025, think again. Ransomware continues to be a global threat, with attacks growing more sophisticated as technology evolves.
In the coming year, expect ransomware attacks to remain just as prevalent and effective. Plan accordingly — or you and your customers could face some serious consequences of a ransomware attack.
If you think ransomware won't affect MSPs and their customers in 2025, think again.
If you're using outdated ransomware detection, prevention, and response tools, your business and its customers could face big problems in 2025 and beyond. In all likelihood, cybercriminals will be able to launch ransomware attacks that bypass your security measures. This can lead to costly and time-intensive data breaches, along with associated brand reputation damage and compliance penalties.
Rather than risk having ransomware get the better of you and your customers moving forward, prioritize security today. Consider these factors as you evaluate the future of ransomware.
Further reading Ransomware Protection with MSP360
1. Multi-Layered Attacks
In 2025, many cybercriminals could use multi-extortion ransomware, which leverages several tactics at once to get victims to pay ransoms. In a multi-layered ransomware attack, cybercriminals can:
- Exfiltrate and encrypt your data
- Launch a denial-of-service (DOS) attack against you
- Threaten to, or actually release your stolen data to the general public
Defend against multi-layered ransomware attacks by establishing security measures across your network, systems, and applications. If a single layer is breached, many others can still protect the data of your business and its customers.
2. Artificial Intelligence (AI)
According to research, cybercriminals can use generative AI to plan and implement complex ransomware attacks. For example, a criminal can utilize ChatGPT to fine-tune a phishing email. In this way, the criminal is better equipped than ever before to hit the mark relative to their goal of getting email recipients to pay a ransom.
Further reading How to Prevent Phishing
Alternatively, AI-based security tools help businesses keep pace with new ransomware strains. With these tools, MSPs can:
- Analyze network traffic, system changes, and user activity in real time
- Get updated instantly if a ransomware threat is detected
- Avoid false positives
If you're evaluating AI-based tools to help you deal with ransomware, consider ones that work well with your existing IT infrastructure. Also, choose tools that offer alerting, reporting, customizable policies, and threat intelligence.
3. Automation
Automation technologies are making it faster and easier than ever before for cybercriminals to launch ransomware attacks. With these technologies, cybercriminals can:
- Find out which MSP systems are vulnerable
- Access networks
- Maximize an attack's reach
Protect against automated ransomware attacks with automation security tools of your own. For instance, tools are available that let you automatically detect threats across endpoints and networks.
When it comes to ransomware attacks, look for automation tools with the following capabilities:
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- Incident response automation that lets you isolate compromised systems to keep ransomware from spreading across your infrastructure
- Vulnerability scanning that helps you find potential infrastructure weaknesses before they can lead to data breaches
- Analytics and reports that provide you with the most up-to-date insights into ransomware strains and trends.
2025 could be a landmark year for ransomware. On the one hand, ransomware is evolving, and cybercriminals remain committed to doing everything within their power to attack MSPs and their customers. Meanwhile, as an MSP, you have options to protect your business and its customers against current and emerging ransomware threats.
When in doubt about how to deal with ransomware attacks now and in the future, focus on the things you can control.
When in doubt about how to deal with ransomware attacks now and in the future, focus on the things you can control. Prioritize your security posture and invest in technologies you can use to make it better than ever before. Also, learn about ransomware and study the cybersecurity landscape. When you do, you can find new and innovative ways to guard against ransomware and other sophisticated security dangers.
