Barracuda Networks: Half of Nordic companies affected by ransomware last year

A new international report from Barracuda Networks shows that half (50 percent) of Nordic companies have suffered one or more successful ransomware attacks in a 12-month period. At a global level, the figure is even higher – 57 percent. The report also shows that 10 percent of companies in the Nordic region have been exposed to three or more attacks in the same period.

A successful ransomware attack affects not only technology but also business. In the Nordic region, 32 percent of companies say they have lost customers as a direct result of attacks. Globally, 25 percent say the same. In addition, there are lost business opportunities and reduced productivity.

Complexity impairs protection

Companies today need to protect a extensive ecosystem of devices, data, applications and cloud-based resources. To address different threats, new security tools are often introduced from different vendors that solve individual problems. But as the number of tools increases, so does the complexity – and the risk for misconfigurations and gaps grow.

Another key challenge highlighted in the report is fragmented security environments. Overall, 66 percent of Nordic companies say they are managing too many different tools and vendors, and 55 percent say their security solutions cannot integrate with each other. The report also shows that companies that have been hit by a successful ransomware attack are more likely to experience this problem.

“The results 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 gain access to devices, data, and more without being detected.” be detected or stopped. Too many organizations are left with an unmanageable number of standalone tools, often implemented with all the best intentions to strengthen security. But when the tools don't work together or are misconfigured, security gaps arise that lead to breaches, says Neal Bradbury, Product Manager at Barracuda.

About the study
The study is based on responses from 2,000 IT and cybersecurity decision-makers at companies with between 50 and 2,000 employees. The survey was conducted by independent research firm Vanson Bourne in April and May 2025, and covers companies in the US, UK, France, DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), Benelux, Nordics (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden), Australia, India and Japan.