Why SMEs Are Prime Targets for Ransomware & How to Protect Against Attacks

Every day, ransomware becomes more sophisticated and capable of infiltrating business systems. According to the Verizon DBIR 2025, ransomware was present in 44% of breaches. The median payout fell to $115,000, and 64% of victims refused to pay. The average ransom demand stands at $84,000, and one in three corporations ultimately pays it.

This impact has been felt significantly by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which are increasingly targeted by cybercriminals. In fact, a recent study reveals that 46% of all SMEs have fallen victim to a ransomware attack.

SMEs are often considered “soft targets” for several reasons. First, they typically lack dedicated cybersecurity teams or robust incident response capabilities, making it easier for attackers to infiltrate their networks undetected. Second, many SMEs rely on outdated systems or unpatched software, creating vulnerabilities that ransomware actors can exploit. Third, SMEs are less likely to have comprehensive employee training on phishing and ransomware tactics—one of the primary entry points for attacks. Finally, because the financial survival of an SME may hinge on continuous access to data, they are more likely to pay ransoms quickly to resume operations, making them attractive targets.

In this article, we explore the growing threat of ransomware against SMEs, examining why these organizations are increasingly targeted, what the most common attack vectors are, and how the financial and operational impacts can be devastating. We also break down the latest statistics and real-world cases to highlight emerging trends. Finally, we provide actionable strategies and best practices that SMEs can adopt to strengthen their defenses, including employee training, data backup policies, endpoint protection, and incident response planning.

Why Are SMEs Targeted by Ransomware?

SMEs make appealing targets for cybercriminals for various reasons. Small enterprises often lack the extensive cybersecurity measures of larger corporations, making them an easier target. On average, SMEs are also quicker to pay a ransom, as their resources are often at stake, further incentivizing attackers. Understanding why SMEs are a primary target is the first step in crafting effective defenses against these attacks.

1. Limited Cybersecurity Budgets

Unlike large enterprises, SMEs often operate with tight IT budgets and minimal security investments. Many lack dedicated cybersecurity professionals, advanced detection tools, or real-time monitoring systems. This makes them low-hanging fruit for attackers looking for easy access with minimal resistance.

2. Outdated Systems and Software

Many SMEs continue using legacy systems or delay critical software updates due to cost or operational disruption concerns. These outdated environments often contain unpatched vulnerabilities that ransomware gangs can easily exploit through automated scans and open-source tools.

3. Lack of Employee Awareness

Phishing remains the top vector for ransomware delivery, and SMEs frequently do not conduct regular employee awareness training. Without education on how to spot suspicious links, attachments, or social engineering attempts, employees are far more likely to fall victim, inadvertently giving attackers access to critical systems.

4. Faster Ransom Payment Pressure

Because SMEs often lack redundant systems or robust backups, a ransomware attack can bring operations to a halt. The pressure to recover quickly may compel them to pay the ransom—even if it’s discouraged—simply to survive. Cybercriminals know this and are more likely to target SMEs, expecting faster payouts.

5. Inadequate Backup and Recovery Plans

Large organizations often have multiple failovers, cloud-based backup strategies, and disaster recovery playbooks. In contrast, SMEs may rely on a single, poorly secured backup solution—or none at all. Without effective recovery mechanisms, the impact of ransomware can be catastrophic.

6. SMEs Are Viewed as Soft Targets for Criminals

Cybercriminals see SMEs as low-risk, high-reward targets. Unlike larger corporations with significant resources, small businesses typically have limited cybersecurity infrastructure and fewer IT personnel to monitor threats. This vulnerability makes it easier for attackers to penetrate these organizations without triggering detection systems or facing heavy defenses.

Because SMEs are often quicker to make payments to regain access to critical data, attackers assume that small businesses are more likely to pay up rather than negotiate or hold out like a large corporation might. In some cases, paying the ransom might appear cheaper or faster than attempting a full data recovery. However, this often just reinforces to cybercriminals that SMEs will pay the ransom, thereby sustaining this cycle of attack.

What are the Common Ransomware Attack Vectors for SMEs?

Understanding how ransomware infiltrates small and medium-sized enterprises is the first step toward building a strong defense. Below are the most prevalent attack vectors that cybercriminals exploit—especially against SMEs with limited security infrastructure.

1. Phishing Emails: The Most Common Entry Point

Phishing remains the most widely used and successful tactic for delivering ransomware. Attackers craft emails that mimic legitimate communications—such as invoices from vendors, job applications with CV attachments, delivery tracking updates, or urgent messages from senior leadership. These emails are designed to trigger emotional or time-sensitive reactions, pushing users to click malicious links or download infected attachments.

Once clicked, the malware is silently installed, often bypassing basic antivirus software. In some cases, phishing emails may even lead to a fake login page to harvest user credentials, which are then used to gain further access to the organization’s systems.

2. Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) Exploits: A Digital Backdoor

RDP is a common feature used by SMEs to enable remote access to systems, especially for IT support or remote workers. Unfortunately, it’s also a favorite target for cybercriminals. Attackers perform automated scans across the internet looking for machines with RDP enabled. Once found, they attempt to brute-force login credentials—often succeeding due to weak, default, or reused passwords.

After gaining access, threat actors can move laterally within the network, escalate privileges, disable security tools, and deploy ransomware across multiple endpoints.

3. Software Supply Chain Attacks: Hidden Risks in Trusted Tools

Supply chain attacks occur when trusted third-party software or service providers are compromised and used as a conduit to infect downstream customers. For SMEs, who often rely on affordable or free tools for daily operations—accounting software, CRM plugins, or IT utilities—this is a significant risk.

A malicious update or tampered installer can introduce ransomware directly into an otherwise well-secured environment. Since the source of infection appears to be legitimate, the attack often goes undetected until encryption begins.

SMEs typically don’t have the resources to perform rigorous software vetting, code reviews, or continuous monitoring of vendor security practices, making them ideal targets for such attacks.

4. Malvertising and Drive-by Downloads: Invisible Infection

Malvertising refers to the use of online ads to distribute malware. These ads may appear on legitimate websites—news outlets, forums, or even social media platforms—through compromised ad networks. A single click can redirect the user to a malicious site that automatically downloads malware or tricks the user into enabling dangerous scripts.

Drive-by downloads are even more insidious. In some cases, no user interaction is needed. Simply visiting a compromised or malicious site can trigger a ransomware infection if the browser, plugins, or operating system has known vulnerabilities.

The Ransomware Threat Landscape for SMEs in 2025

In recent years, ransomware attacks on SMEs have increased, with small businesses representing an appealing target for the following reasons:

High success rates: Cybercriminals are highly successful when targeting SMEs. As many as 73% of ransomware attacks on SMEs result in successful encryption of their data, which often prompts these companies to pay to recover their data.

Lower ransom demands: Ransom demands made to SMEs are generally lower than those made to large enterprises, making it more likely that an SME will decide to pay to avoid the cost and delay of full recovery efforts.

How SMEs Can Protect Themselves from Ransomware Attacks

Understanding the risks and taking preventive steps early can help SMEs protect against ransomware attacks. Below are some practical strategies that SMEs can adopt:

1. Establish Reliable Data Backup Procedures

A strong data backup strategy is crucial to minimizing the damage caused by ransomware. Businesses should keep regular backups of critical files and ensure these backups are stored in secure, isolated environments. If a ransomware attack does succeed, backups provide a path to recover data without needing to pay a ransom.

2. Invest in Robust Firewalls

Firewalls are a first line of defense that helps protect an organization from unauthorized access. Firewalls monitor incoming and outgoing traffic, filtering malicious data. Configuring these systems appropriately can prevent cybercriminals from gaining a foothold in your network, lowering the likelihood of a ransomware infection.

3. Perform Regular Penetration Tests

Penetration testing is the practice of simulating cyberattacks to identify system vulnerabilities. By conducting regular penetration tests, SMEs can proactively address weaknesses that cybercriminals might exploit. This helps keep defenses sharp and raises the level of preparedness across your entire network.

For more on identifying and addressing vulnerabilities, explore this guide on security awareness training.

4. Run an Email Gap Analysis

Many ransomware attacks infiltrate systems through phishing emails that trick employees into opening malicious files. Running a regular email gap analysis can help pinpoint weaknesses in your email security measures, enabling you to strengthen your defenses against phishing attempts and ransomware.

Consider utilizing phishing simulators to assess employee readiness and reduce the likelihood of an employee falling victim to a phishing-based ransomware attack.

5. Keep Systems and Software Up-to-Date

Keeping systems and software up-to-date is essential to protect against ransomware. Cybercriminals often exploit known vulnerabilities in outdated software. SMEs should regularly update operating systems, applications, and other software with the latest security patches.

Explore the benefits of cybersecurity awareness training to ensure your team remains knowledgeable about software best practices.

6. Educate Employees on Cybersecurity Best Practices

One of the most effective ways to prevent ransomware is by raising employee awareness. Training programs are essential in helping employees understand and avoid common cyber threats. When staff members are familiar with cybersecurity practices, the risk of human error leading to a ransomware infection decreases significantly.

Using platforms like the Keepnet Human Risk Management Platform can help SMEs manage and track employee readiness against ransomware and other malicious software.

Keepnet Human Risk Management: Prepare Now to Mitigate Ransomware Risks

In today’s rapidly evolving cyber threat landscape, ransomware is no longer a matter of “if,” but “when.” For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the consequences of a successful ransomware attack can be devastating—resulting in data loss, operational downtime, financial extortion, reputational damage, and even business closure.

That’s why proactive preparation is critical, and this starts with addressing the human error in cyber security—the most common entry point for ransomware.

Keepnet’s Human Risk Management Platform is designed to give SMEs the tools they need to stay ahead of ransomware attacks—without requiring massive IT budgets or in-house cybersecurity teams.

Here’s how Keepnet prepares your workforce and infrastructure:

1. Security Awareness Training Built for Real-World Scenarios

Our security awareness training tool is tailored to real-world threats like phishing, malicious attachments, and credential harvesting. Delivered in bite-sized, engaging formats, these sessions educate your employees on how ransomware works and how to recognize and respond to suspicious activity.

2. Phishing Simulations That Build Resilience

Keepnet enables you to run safe and customizable phishing simulations, testing your employees’ readiness in realistic scenarios. You’ll identify high-risk individuals or departments and get actionable insights to close knowledge gaps—before attackers exploit them.

3. Incident Response Workflows

In the event of a phishing click or failed simulation, Keepnet can automatically enroll users into targeted training, helping correct risky behavior in real time. This automation ensures security habits are reinforced continuously, not just during annual reviews.

4. Human Risk Scoring and Analytics

With Keepnet’s Human Risk Score, you can quantify your organization’s human vulnerability. This allows you to prioritize training efforts, demonstrate compliance, and report on improvements over time with confidence.

5. Integrated Reporting and Compliance Tools

Keepnet’s centralized platform ensures all actions are tracked, measured, and reportable—a vital asset for proving due diligence during audits, insurance claims, or incident investigations.

Ransomware groups are becoming smarter, faster, and more aggressive. But with Keepnet, your organization can flip the script—turning your employees from unaware targets into informed defenders.

Whether you’re just starting your security journey or looking to enhance your current strategy, Keepnet’s Human Risk Management Platform gives you the agility and insight to prevent human-driven cyber incidents before they begin.

Editor's Note: This blog was updated on July 15, 2025.