Ransomware Attacks Rise Almost 93% in 2021, According to New Research

Global cyber security and risk mitigation expert NCC Group has revealed that ransomware attacks almost doubled in 2021, rising 92.7% year-on-year, according to its 2021 Annual Threat Monitor.

This builds upon a gradual but noticeable rise in ransomware attacks since the COVID-19 pandemic began, with ransomware accounting for 65.38% of all incidents dealt with by our global cyber incident response team (CIRT) in 2021.

Throughout the year, attacks were most commonly targeted at the public (19.35%) and industrial sectors (19.35%), followed by consumer cyclicals (16.13%).

Compiled by NCC Group’s strategic threat intelligence team, the report details the events of 2021 and their impact on the cyber threat landscape, providing an overview of incidents across all sectors and highlighting global trends.

The insights are based on incidents identified by NCC Group’s global managed detection and response service (MDR) and its global cyber incident response team (CIRT).

Remaining consistent with NCC Group’s monthly threat pulses, the most targeted regions during 2021 were North America and Europe, accounting for 53% and 30% of all attacks respectively. v

NCC Group explained that these regions are densely populated with wealthy organizations, which provides an incentive to threat actors that employ a big-game-hunting methodology. The team has highlighted this as the reason for the concentrated ransomware activity in these areas and have predicted that this trend will likely continue throughout 2022 and beyond.v

Trends that NCC Group identified in 2020, such as surges in specific months of the year, were also seen again in 2021. An observable increase in the number of victims was reported until July, which then dropped off before another surge in August, which the NCC Group team have attributed to seasonal and holiday-related fluctuations in cybercrime activity. This would also explain the continued trend of many threat actors once again postponing their activity for the Christmas period in 2021.

The NCC Group team has proposed that the shift in the quantity of ransomware cases will be permanent and that this trend will continue to develop in 2022.

Rise of Conti Ransomware

The most prevalent threat actor noted in the report was Conti, a Russia-based global threat actor that emerged in 2017.

Conti represented 18% of all attacks across the past two years. In line with the general trends, the industrial sector was Conti’s main target, followed by consumer cyclicals and technology, accounting for 33.1%, 21.5% and 7.4% respectively. Similarly, in line with general trends, North American businesses were top on Conti's list of targets, followed by Europe, with 63.8% and 30.2% of all attacks respectively happening in these regions.

Elsewhere, another notable group that highlighted the changing nature of the vulnerability landscape was the Lockbit threat actor. After a brief hiatus and metamorphosis into Lockbit 2.0 in June 2021, the group became one of the biggest contributors to double extortion ransomware in 2021, accounting for 16.4% of the entire year’s ransomware cases. This contrasts their activity in 2020, in which they were absent from the list of the top 10 threat actors.

Matt Hull, global lead for strategic threat intelligence at NCC Group, commented: “Many of the dangers which we first identified at the start of the pandemic have snowballed in 2021, revealing a developing threat landscape with ransomware attacks on the rise. However, despite many clear developing trends, the re-emergence of Lockbit as a prevalent actor highlights that the vulnerability landscape is still ever-changing.

“We need to remain vigilant for new and changing threats in 2022. It is now more important than ever for organizations to ensure that they are protected from the types of attack we have reported in 2021, especially in consistently targeted sectors such as industrials and consumer cyclicals.”

Featured

  • Security Today Announces The Govies Government Security Award Winners for 2025

    Security Today is pleased to announce the 2025 winners in The Govies Government Security Awards. The awards honor outstanding government security products in a variety of categories. Read Now

  • Survey: 60 Percent of Organizations Using AI in IT Infrastructure

    Netwrix, a cybersecurity provider focused on data and identity threats, today announced the release of its annual global 2025 Cybersecurity Trends Report based on a global survey of 2,150 IT and security professionals from 121 countries. It reveals that 60% of organizations are already using artificial intelligence (AI) in their IT infrastructure and 30% are considering implementing AI. Read Now

  • New Research Reveals Global Video Surveillance Industry Perspectives on AI

    Axis Communications, the global industry leader in video surveillance, has released its latest research report, ‘The State of AI in Video Surveillance,’ which explores global industry perspectives on the use of AI in the security industry and beyond. The report reveals current attitudes on AI technologies thanks to in-depth interviews with AI experts from Axis’ global network and a comprehensive survey of more than 5,800 respondents, including distributors, channel partners, and end customers across 68 countries. The resulting insights cover AI integration and the opportunities and challenges that exist with regard to security, safety, business intelligence, and operational efficiency. Read Now

  • SIA Urges Tariff Relief for Security Industry Products

    Today, the Security Industry Association has sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick requesting relief from tariffs for security industry products and asking that the Trump administration formulate a process that allows companies to apply for product-specific exemptions. The security industry is an important segment of the U.S. economy, contributing over $430 billion in total economic impact and supporting over 2.1 million jobs. Read Now

  • Report Shows Cybercriminals Continue Pivot to Stealthier Tactics

    IBM recently released the 2025 X-Force Threat Intelligence Index highlighting that cybercriminals continued to pivot to stealthier tactics, with lower-profile credential theft spiking, while ransomware attacks on enterprises declined. IBM X-Force observed an 84% increase in emails delivering infostealers in 2024 compared to the prior year, a method threat actors relied heavily on to scale identity attacks. Read Now

New Products

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.