Mid-market companies bear the brunt of global ransomware attacks

Analyzing over 13,000 verified incidents, the report demonstrates a consistent pattern: the mid-market's share of total ransomware victims has hovered between 72% and 75% annually for the past four years. Even as the total volume of attacks surged by 44% during this period, the proportion of mid-sized targets remained steady. Manufacturing firms currently face the highest risk, accounting for more than 25% of these incidents, followed by professional services and construction.

Ferhat Dikbiyik, Chief Research & Intelligence Officer at Black Kite, noted that the report isolates the mid-market as a distinct segment rather than treating it as an afterthought in broader studies. The findings highlight significant security gaps: over 28% of these firms operate with known exploited vulnerabilities, while nearly half lack adequate DMARC protection. These companies face a dual pressure of defending against direct ransomware threats while simultaneously being audited by larger partners under tightening global regulations like the EU's NIS2 Directive.

The challenge is compounded by an widening AI gap. While attackers leverage artificial intelligence to accelerate the discovery of system flaws, only 20% of mid-sized organizations have successfully integrated AI tools into their security operations. With smaller teams and limited budgets, many of these firms struggle to maintain the continuous visibility required to mitigate risks, leaving them increasingly exposed in a landscape where their security posture is now a critical prerequisite for doing business.