The rise of ransomware incidents is a major concern, with ransomware involved in nearly half of all data breaches.While the median ransom payment decreased to $115,000 in 2024, a growing number of victim organizations are choosing not to pay the ransom.Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are particularly vulnerable, with ransomware being present in 88% of breaches affecting these organizations.The costs associated with recovery, downtime, reputational damage, and potential regulatory fines can outweigh the ransom demand itself.