Modern cyberattacks come in all types of shapes and sizes. Ransomware is among the most disruptive and costly, especially for organizations that have limited internal IT or cybersecurity resources.
With ransomware, hackers lock your systems or data and hold them “hostage” while demanding a payment to restore access. In many cases, these bad actors also threaten to leak sensitive information if the ransom isn’t paid.
Ransomware affects organizations of all sizes. From small local businesses to school districts, nonprofits, and government agencies. Many attackers today target small to midsize organizations because they tend to have fewer security resources in place.
So don’t make the mistake of assuming you’re immune to ransomware because you’re not a Fortune 500 or publicly traded company. Read on to find out if you’re at risk.
Who is at Risk?
The short answer: everyone.
But some organizations and business types are higher-risk targets than others. Ransomware attacks aren’t random. Hackers choose victims based on what they perceive as the easiest path to a payout.
You’re more likely to be targeted if:
- You store sensitive data (like financial records, medical information, client details).
- Your operations require constant system access, and downtime instantly impacts revenue or services.
- You have limited internal IT resources or cybersecurity controls.
- You’re in a position where you’re likely to pay quickly to restore systems.
- You work closely with third-party vendors, partners, or shared systems that increase your exposure.
- You’re using outdated systems or software without proper threat monitoring and detection.
Why Small and Mid-Sized Businesses Are Increasingly Targeted
There’s a common misconception that cybercriminals only go after large corporations. That’s no longer true.
In fact, recent data shows that ransomware has become the biggest threat for SMBs. According to Verizon’s latest Data Breach Investigation Report, 88% of attacks on SMBs are ransomware-related (vs. 39% for larger organizations).
Mid-sized organizations tend to be the sweet spot for hackers due to a combination of multiple factors.
- Lack of dedicated cybersecurity teams
- Aging infrastructure or reactive IT support
- Assuming they’re “too small” to be targeted
- Still have valuable data and real financial exposure
From an attacker’s perspective, you’re big enough to have some money and sensitive information, but not perceived as too big to be impenetrable. Even smaller ransom payouts can add up quickly when these attacks are rolled out at scale.
It’s one of the reasons why ransomware has become such a serious problem, as many of these companies simply aren’t prepared for potential attacks. So when they occur, the results can be devastating.
Common Industries Targeted by Ransomware Attacks
Certain industries are disproportionally targeted by ransomware attacks due to the type of data they handle and how critical their systems are for daily operations. The most vulnerable industries include:
Education
School districts, colleges, and universities are often targeted by ransom attacks because they store massive amounts of sensitive student data.
Many of these institutions operate with limited IT budgets, making it harder to maintain strong security defenses. If systems go down, it can disrupt classes, tests, online learning, and administrative options. All of this creates pressure for the target to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
Government and Public Sector
43% of ransomware attacks target local governments in the United States. This can include everything from town offices to police, fire, and emergency response departments.
When a ransomware attack occurs in these cases, the impact is immediate and highly visible. Public tax records are at risk, access to critical information can be cut off, and emergency services can be delayed.
Strict budget constraints make it difficult for government and public sector entities to maintain modern cyber defenses. These organizations often rely on legacy infrastructure, which is vulnerable to ransomware attacks.
Healthcare
Healthcare organizations are vulnerable to ransomware attacks for two main reasons.
First, the data they store is crucial. Personal healthcare data getting leaked can be detrimental, and hackers can sell personal information of your patients on the dark web for hefty profit.
Second, software and systems used here are critical to daily operations. Patient care depends on 24/7 access to these systems and records. Even short disruptions can have serious consequences, which is why attackers think healthcare providers are more likely to pay up fast.
Professional Services
Attacks on professional service organizations have become a new favorite for ransomware hackers because a single breach can impact dozens or hundreds of other businesses.
For example, an attack on a law firm or accounting firm can expose the sensitive data of all their clients.
This scenario adds even more pressure to the business that was breached because a leak would be a reputational disaster and potentially create legal consequences.
Nonprofits and Churches
Nonprofits and religious organizations are targeted because they often have limited budgets, outdated systems, and smaller IT teams.
Despite this, they still handle sensitive donor information, financial records, and internal data that can be attractive targets to hackers seeking easier entry points.
Recent Examples of Ransomware Attacks
Ransomware attacks happen every day across a wide range of industries and business types. Here are a few recent examples to show how disruptive and expensive their impact can be.
BridgePay Ransomware Attack Caused Major Outages Across Payments and Healthcare
BridgePay is a payment gateway provider based in the US. Their systems went down on February 6, 2026, which was confirmed as a ransomware attack.
The US Secret Service forensic team was brought on right away, but the full outage lasted two weeks, and systems weren’t completely restored until the end of February.
This incident was particularly disruptive because it impacted thousands of partners and businesses relying on this gateway for daily operations. For example, this extended into the healthcare space as Rectangle Health uses BridgePay’s gateway to provide payment processing services for thousands of healthcare providers who were unable to accept credit cards for weeks.
Multiple Municipal Governments in Connecticut Attacked
Two separate towns in Connecticut have been hit with ransomware attacks in subsequent months that appear to be connected.
New Britain was attacked at the end of January 2026 and was still trying to figure out costs from the breach in March. Meriden faced a breach on February 13, 2026, which forced all city workers to switch to hand-written recordkeeping until March 3rd. The attack in Meriden also forced emergency dispatch to move to the police academy instead of the police station, which lasted for three weeks.
These recent attacks are not the first instances of ransomware affecting governments in CT. The city of West Haven paid a Bitcoin ransom to access 23 servers that were being held hostage back in 2018, and that same city was attacked again in December 2024.
Health Data of 90,000 Individuals Compromised by Ransomware Attack on Nonprofit
The National Association on Drug Abuse Programs confirmed that their systems were breached in January 2026. A ransomware group called Genesis took credit for this attack.
NADAP says that records from roughly 90,000 people were compromised, including names, social security numbers, birthdays, health insurance information, medical diagnoses, and other sensitive info.
How to Protect Yourself From Ransomware Attacks
There is no single solution that entirely prevents ransomware. Effective protection comes from a combination of proactive cybersecurity measures, which include:
- Prevention — Keeping systems updated, securing endpoints, and hardening vulnerabilities so they can’t be exploited.
- Detection — Monitoring of systems in real-time to identify suspicious activity early, before it spreads.
- Response — Having a plan and system in place to eliminate threats and minimize damage.
- Recovery — Ensuring you have reliable backups in place so operations can be restored without paying a ransom.
For many organizations, managing all of this internally isn’t realistic. That’s where Balsam Technologies can help.
We’ve been providing managed IT and cybersecurity solutions for 30 years. Regardless of your industry, size, budget, or current IT setup, we can help protect your organization from ransomware attacks and other cyber threats.
So you can sleep easy knowing your systems are secure and operations will continue without disruptions, data leaks, or ransom payments. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Ransomware FAQs
Should you pay hackers a ransom?
The decision is up to you. But the FBI strongly advises against paying ransomware demands. Paying doesn’t guarantee you’ll regain access to your data or systems. Plus it encourages attackers to continue their scam while making your business a repeat threat in the future.
Does insurance cover ransomware attacks?
Some dedicated cyber insurance policies can cover ransomware-related costs, including recovery and, in some cases, ransom payments. However, coverage varies widely by provider and often comes with strict requirements around incident response. Coverage might be limited and claims could be denied if your carrier finds negligence in your IT security standards.
What happens if you don’t pay?
If you don’t pay, you may permanently lose access to your data unless you have secure backups. Attackers may also follow through on their threats to leak sensitive information, which can damage your reputation and also have legal or compliance consequences.
Are there risks of paying?
Yes, paying a ransom in a cyberattack carries significant risk. There’s no guarantee that the hacker will give you a working decryption key or fully restore your data. In some instances, organizations are targeted again, either by the same group or another attacker, because they know you’re willing to pay. You could also face legal or regulatory issues depending on who you send the funds to.
