By Bakuei Matsukawa
Table of contents
Executive summary
Ransomware attacks remain a critical threat to organizations worldwide, exploiting vulnerabilities and inadequate security measures. This article emphasizes the importance of reducing the Cyber Risk Index (CRI) through Attack Surface Risk Management (ASRM) to prevent such incidents. By analyzing data for the first half of 2024 from 6,588 organizations employing ASRM, we found a significant correlation between higher Risk Indices and increased susceptibility to ransomware infections. Specifically, organizations that experienced ransomware attacks had an average Risk Index of 52.38, compared to 40.25 for those that did not.
Our key findings indicate that organizations with a Risk Index above the average are approximately 12 times more likely to suffer a ransomware infection than those below, underscoring the necessity for proactive risk management strategies. ASRM enables organizations to identify vulnerabilities across their attack surfaces, prioritize risks, and implement effective countermeasures. By focusing on reducing the Risk Index — comprising the Attack Index, Exposure Index, and Security…
