Why manufacturing is taking the hardest hit from ransomware in 2025

Manufacturing emerged as the most targeted sector for ransomware in 2025

Manufacturing has become the focal point of global ransomware threats. According to Check Point’s 2025 threat analysis, manufacturers suffered 1,466 ransomware incidents worldwide, up 56% from 937 in 2024. Across all sectors, total ransomware activity climbed 32% to 7,419 cases. The message is clear: industrial environments have become prime real estate for cybercriminals.

The sector’s expanding digital footprint is both its greatest strength and its biggest vulnerability. Many factories now operate on connected digital systems that improve control and data flow. Yet these same systems rely on legacy operational technology, mechanical and software components designed long before today’s cyber threats existed. This creates exploitable gaps across production lines, logistics platforms, and supplier networks. When such systems are locked by ransomware, the damage isn’t limited to one facility. Operations stall, safety protocols falter, and delays echo through entire markets.

For senior executives, this is not just an IT challenge, it’s a core business risk. Production downtime directly impacts revenue and reputation. Leaders must recognize that cybersecurity is now a board-level issue, demanding the same attention as productivity and innovation. Addressing this threat requires investment beyond compliance. It’s about securing operational continuity in an era when even a short outage can ripple across industries.

Reliance on legacy operational technology

Check Point’s report outlines three structural drivers behind this surge. The first is legacy operational technology. In Europe alone, 80% of manufacturers still operate critical OT systems with known vulnerabilities. These systems, which control core industrial functions, were never engineered for today’s connected environments. Cybercriminals know this and continue to exploit long-standing weaknesses that often remain unpatched due to operational constraints.

The second driver is supply chain complexity. Attackers are no longer focused solely on large corporations. They now breach smaller suppliers, managed service providers, or software vendors to bypass frontline defenses and infiltrate large industrial ecosystems. These indirect attacks nearly doubled, from 154 recorded supply-chain-based incidents in 2024 to 297 in 2025.

The third driver is the proliferation of ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS). These are organized criminal partnerships where technical operators build attack tools and lease them to affiliates for a share of the profits. RaaS lowers the barrier to entry for new threat actors, allowing them to deploy targeted attacks by region, language, and industry.

For executives, this new threat landscape demands a shift in strategy. Security investment must go beyond perimeter defense or periodic patching. It’s about building resilience across every layer of the industrial environment, people, technology, and partners. Continuous monitoring, modernization of legacy systems, and real-time information sharing with trusted cyber-intelligence bodies should now be part of standard operating practice.

Cyber threats no longer move linearly. They evolve through shared ecosystems, much like business itself. Companies that act decisively, patch quickly, and collaborate effectively will be the ones that keep their operations, and their markets, running securely.

Specific ransomware groups are leading targeted attacks against manufacturers

Several organized ransomware groups are now shaping the threat landscape in manufacturing. Akira stands out as one of the most financially successful, accumulating an estimated USD $244 million by late 2025. The group primarily breaches industrial networks through virtual private networks (VPNs) lacking multi‑factor authentication, while also exploiting known vulnerabilities and employing targeted phishing tactics. Check Point’s report shows that Qilin, a Russia‑based ransomware‑as‑a‑service network, amplifies the threat further by supporting affiliates who specialize in infiltrating manufacturing and logistics systems. The Play group continues to dominate attacks in the United States, and the FBI has already documented roughly 900 entities affected by its operations.

This wave is not limited to financially motivated players. Hacktivist collectives and state‑aligned groups, including NoName057(16) and Chinese‑linked actors, are taking advantage of geopolitical friction to disrupt industrial networks through denial‑of‑service campaigns and website defacement. While these operations differ in motive, their combined effect adds significant pressure on commercial and national infrastructure security.

For executives, the takeaway is straightforward: threat diversity has increased. Ransomware groups now merge financial ambition with political intent. Enterprises need to invest in layered defense strategies that incorporate secure remote access, real‑time intrusion detection, and verified endpoint protection. Leadership must establish coordinated response frameworks, integrating both technical teams and strategic decision‑makers. Attack attribution can be complex, but preparedness and operational discipline are measurable and controllable.

Attackers increasingly exploit system vulnerabilities, stolen credentials, and supply chain access to gain entry into industrial networks

Manufacturing cyberattacks are evolving through more precise and monetizable entry routes. In 2025, 32% of observed manufacturing incidents began with exploited vulnerabilities, usually in outdated or misconfigured operational technology environments. Phishing accounted for 23%, with attackers leveraging artificial intelligence to generate convincing lures that bypass typical human scrutiny. At the same time, stolen access credentials have become a significant commodity, selling on dark web marketplaces for between USD $4,000 and $70,000, giving attackers direct access to sensitive production networks without performing an external breach.

The integration between traditional IT systems and industrial OT environments has deepened, creating additional lateral movement opportunities for threat actors. Once access is obtained, these intruders use remote administration tools and compromised supply chain software to sidestep internal detection. The method is efficient and damaging, often combining file encryption with data theft or extortion‑only operations designed to pressure victims into payment.

Executives must treat this as a business continuity risk, not merely a cybersecurity concern. Enhancing visibility across network layers, tightening access management, and applying immediate patching within hours of disclosure, not days, are now operational imperatives. Leadership also needs to ensure that data‑driven decision systems integrate security telemetry, enabling real‑time insights into where vulnerabilities are forming.

Regional disparities reveal differing impacts

The Check Point analysis shows how ransomware pressure is distributed unevenly across the global industrial landscape. In Europe, manufacturing accounted for 72% of all industrial ransomware incidents in the third quarter of 2025, with average ransom demands reaching USD $1.16 million, more than double the previous year’s figure. This data signals a sharp escalation in both frequency and financial impact. The region’s extensive base of legacy manufacturing infrastructure and interconnected supply chains contributes to this vulnerability.

The United States remains the most targeted country for industrial ransomware for the fourth year in a row, with manufacturing continuing to bear nearly half of all recorded industrial breaches. Median attack costs now stand at USD $500,000 per incident, not including the broader financial impact of interrupted operations. In India, the trend is equally concerning. Sixty‑five percent of affected organizations paid ransoms in 2025, and the average payment reached USD $1.35 million. The country’s expanding industrial digitization and concentration of IT service providers have intensified its exposure to ransomware groups seeking both data and operational leverage.

For executives, the takeaway is the necessity for region‑specific cybersecurity policies and investment. Europe must accelerate modernization of its operational technology stack to close known vulnerabilities. U.S. industrial operators should focus on cost‑effective resilience, reducing downtime and maintaining service continuity even under cyber duress. In India, leadership should prioritize stronger enforcement of backup protocols and incident response frameworks. A one‑size‑fits‑all strategy is ineffective. Tailored defense architectures based on local threat patterns and infrastructure maturity are critical.

Enhanced cybersecurity measures and fast-tracked remediation

The report’s final call to action centers on decisive cybersecurity transformation. Manufacturers are advised to adopt layered defense architectures that strengthen identity control, credential protection, and rapid vulnerability patching. The recommendation is to deploy fixes within hours, not days or weeks, significantly reducing the window of exposure. Network segmentation, offline backups, and enhanced visibility between IT and OT systems form the foundation of this defense model. Comprehensive staff training and strict third‑party risk governance are also emphasized to address both technical and human vulnerabilities.

Leaders must view cybersecurity as an operational competency that evolves alongside manufacturing technology. The current threat environment demands speed and coordination. Monitoring tools powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning offer real‑time detection capability and predictive insight. Integrating these tools into existing industrial systems ensures continuity even when external conditions become volatile.

For executives, this moment calls for commitment at the strategic level. Effective protection depends on policy, resources, and execution. The organizations that adapt fastest, by tightening controls, modernizing infrastructure, and deploying next‑generation detection, will move from vulnerability to resilience. Cybersecurity must now be embedded in every layer of business planning, influencing production schedules, supplier management, and executive governance. By improving response speed and risk visibility, leaders can sustain operational integrity and maintain a competitive edge.

Main highlights

• Manufacturing becomes ransomware epicenter: Manufacturing faced 1,466 ransomware incidents in 2025, a 56% rise from 2024, due to digitization combined with outdated technology. Leaders should prioritize cybersecurity investment as an operational resilience imperative.
• Legacy systems and complex supply chains intensify risk: Outdated operational technology and interconnected supply networks remain prime attack vectors. Executives must accelerate OT modernization and strengthen third‑party risk governance to reduce vulnerabilities.
• A few dominant groups drive industrial disruption: Akira, Qilin, and Play account for much of the ransomware surge, blending financial motivation and geopolitical influence. Leaders should deploy advanced threat detection and coordinate responses across business units.
• Attackers exploit weak points across networks: Thirty‑two percent of incidents stemmed from known vulnerabilities, while stolen credentials sold for up to USD $70,000 enabled deeper breaches. Fast patching and strict identity management should be mandatory policy.
• Regional trends demand tailored defense strategies: Europe, the U.S., and India report the highest impacts, with rising ransom payments and costs. Executives should align regional cybersecurity plans with local threat environments and regulatory frameworks.
• Speed and layered defenses define effective protection: Rapid remediation, network segmentation, and offline backups now define industrial resilience. Leaders should champion faster patch cycles and continuous monitoring to sustain operations and trust.