New research from Arctic Wolf highlights a troubling trend: the manufacturing and construction sectors have become prime targets for cybercriminals, accounting for nearly one-third of all ransomware incidents. As threat actors refine their tactics, organizations in these industries must urgently reassess their cybersecurity defenses to mitigate operational and financial risks.
Ransomware Targets Critical Operations
According to the 2025 Arctic Wolf Threat Report, manufacturing leads all industries in ransomware attacks (18.6% of cases), with construction ranking third (12%). Cybercriminals recognize that disrupting production lines or halting construction projects forces quicker payouts, given the severe consequences:
- Contractual penalties from delayed deliverables
- Revenue losses due to operational downtime
- Reputational damage from leaked customer data
The report also reveals that 96% of ransomware cases now involve double extortion, where attackers steal sensitive data before encrypting systems—bypassing traditional backup defenses.
Why Attackers Favor These Sectors
While manufacturing firms face slightly lower median ransom demands (550,000vs.550,000vs.600,000 industry average), their frequency of attacks makes them lucrative targets. Five major ransomware groups consistently listed manufacturing among their top three targets, with construction appearing in four. Attackers prioritize reliable payouts over high-dollar gambles, exploiting industries where downtime is costlier than negotiation.
Building Cyber Resilience
To combat these threats, Arctic Wolf recommends proactive measures:
1. Robust Backup Strategies
- Adopt the 3-2-1 rule: Three data copies, across two media formats, with one off-site (preferably in a secure cloud).
- Regularly test recovery protocols to ensure rapid response.
- In 68% of cases, reliable backups reduced ransom pressure or eliminated payouts entirely.
2. Foundational Security Practices
- Phishing-resistant multi-factor authentication (MFA)
- Continuous monitoring for anomalous user behavior
- Zero-trust architecture to limit lateral movement
3. Vendor Accountability
Organizations must clarify roles with security providers, ensuring vendors deliver:
- 24/7 threat detection
- Visibility into ecosystem vulnerabilities
- Support for identity and access management (IAM)
