Ransomware Costs Spike: VPNs and SonicWall Exploited

The 2026 InsurSec Report, published by At-Bay, reveals a concerning 7% increase in cyber insurance claims, with the average severity of damages per incident now estimated at a staggering $221,000. This isn’t just about financial loss; it reflects the real-world operational disruption and recovery costs organizations face.

Cyber Updates - Asher Tamam highlights that the average ransom payment has hit $508,000. A critical point for defenders: the majority of these attacks are leveraging VPN connections and SonicWall equipment. This points directly to the persistent exploitation of known vulnerabilities in perimeter devices, a low-hanging fruit for attackers that continues to pay dividends.

Cyber Updates - Asher Tamam further notes that small businesses and organizations with significant third-party exposure (customers, suppliers) are experiencing greater damages and more severe legal consequences. This underscores the expanded attack surface and the ripple effect breaches have beyond the initial target. Attackers know that compromising a smaller, less secure link in a supply chain can open doors to larger, more lucrative targets.