Ransomware payment rates have sharply declined, falling to about 20% by late 2025, as organizations recognize that paying rarely delivers full recovery, prevents repeat attacks, or eliminates long-term risks. While average ransom payments are rising due to a few large cases, most companies now rely on improved backups, incident response planning, and regulatory pressure to avoid paying. Data exfiltration is now central to most attacks, but its leverage is weakening as organizations better manage breaches. Payment decisions are often driven by operational pressure—especially failed or compromised backups—and attackers increasingly escalate through tactics like targeting customers. Ultimately, resilience, tested recovery plans, and preparedness determine outcomes, with stronger organizations treating payment as a last resort rather than the default.

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