Cyber ransoms are now a line item in enterprise budgets

Nearly a third of Ireland’s large enterprises paid a cyber ransom last year, with average payouts hitting €683,000. As threats escalate — particularly from AI-driven and state-sponsored attacks — companies are not only bracing for impact but actively budgeting for it, with some reserving up to €2.7m.

Half of reported breaches stemmed from whaling attacks on executives, underlining a critical vulnerability at the top. Despite rising investments, outdated systems and underfunded strategies persist, leaving many exposed. Cybercrime is no longer a contingency — it's an operational constant.

Read the full article to see how your peers are navigating this costly new normal.