A new international report from Barracuda Networks reveals that half (50 percent) of companies in the Nordic region experienced one or more successful ransomware attacks during a twelve-month period. Globally the figure is even higher — 57 percent. The report also finds that 10 percent of Nordic companies suffered three or more attacks in the same period.
A successful ransomware attack affects more than just technology; it also disrupts business operations. In the Nordics, 32 percent of companies report losing customers directly as a result of attacks. Internationally, 25 percent report the same. Beyond lost customers, companies face lost business opportunities and reduced productivity.
Complexity undermines protection
Today, organizations must protect an extensive ecosystem of devices, data, applications and cloud-based resources. To meet diverse threats, companies often add new security tools from multiple vendors, each addressing specific problems. But as the number of tools grows, so does complexity — and with it the risk of misconfigurations and security gaps.
Another central challenge highlighted by the report is fragmented security environments. Overall, 66 percent of Nordic organizations say they manage too many different tools and vendors, and 55 percent say their security solutions cannot integrate effectively. The report also shows that companies that have suffered a successful ransomware attack are more likely to experience these problems.
“The findings clearly show that ransomware is a growing threat and that fragmented security solutions leave organizations extremely vulnerable. In many cases, attackers can move freely within a victim’s network and access devices, data and other resources without being detected or stopped. Too many organizations end up with an unmanageable set of standalone tools, often introduced with good intentions to strengthen security. But when those tools don’t work together or are misconfigured, security gaps emerge that lead to breaches,” says Neal Bradbury, Chief Product Officer at Barracuda.
About the study
The study is based on responses from 2,000 IT and cybersecurity decision-makers at organizations with 50 to 2,000 employees. The independent research firm Vanson Bourne conducted the survey in April and May 2025 and covered companies in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), Benelux, the Nordics (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden), Australia, India and Japan.