According to the 2021 Cyber Threat Report by SonicWall, 304.7 million ransomware attacks occured in the first half of 2021, already surpassing the total number of ransomware attacks for all of 2020 with 304.6 million (a 151% increase YTD).

The increase in ransomware attacks are due to the shift to remote work, allowing threat actors to take advantage.

In a statement by SonicWall CEO, Bill Conner, commented “In a year driven by anxiety and uncertainty, cybercriminals have continued to accelerate attacks against innocent people and vulnerable institutions. This latest data shows that sophisticated threat actors are tirelessly adapting their tactics and embracing ransomware to reap financial gain and sow discord.”

The spikes in volume of ransomware have occurred in the US at a rate of 185% and 144% in the UK. The top industries being targeted are government (917%), education (615%), healthcare (594%), and retail (264%) companies. June 2021 was the worst month with SonicWall reporting 78.4 million registered ransomware attacks.

These alarming stats should be a warning for your organization. One malicious email could cost your organization millions. It’s important to utilize additional security layers to prevent an attack from ever occurring. The most recommended method is implementing new-school security awareness training to ensure your employees know how to spot and report any suspicious activity.