---
title: "Ransomware Protection | Offline Secure Storage | Firevault"
description: "Ransomware can't reach data that isn't online. Keep gold copies physically disconnected outside authorised access windows to help break the attack chain."
lang: en-GB
json-ld: |
  [
    {
      "@context": "https://schema.org",
      "@type": "Organization",
      "@id": "https://fire-vault.com/#organization",
      "name": "Firevault",
      "legalName": "Firevault Limited",
      "url": "https://fire-vault.com",
      "logo": {
        "@type": "ImageObject",
        "url": "https://fire-vault.com/logo.png",
        "width": 200,
        "height": 60
      },
      "foundingDate": "2025-03",
      "description": "Protect what matters with Offline Secure Storage and control what moves with Control by Firevault. Physically disconnected, always reachable by you.",
      "address": {
        "@type": "PostalAddress",
        "addressCountry": "GB",
        "addressLocality": "United Kingdom"
      },
      "contactPoint": [
        {
          "@type": "ContactPoint",
          "contactType": "customer service",
          "email": "hello@fire-vault.com",
          "availableLanguage": "English",
          "areaServed": [
            "GB",
            "EU",
            "US",
            "AE"
          ]
        }
      ],
      "sameAs": [
        "https://www.linkedin.com/company/firevault",
        "https://x.com/firevaultuk"
      ],
      "slogan": "Disconnect to Protect",
      "knowsAbout": [
        "Offline Secure Storage",
        "Physical Air Gap Data Protection",
        "Ransomware Protection",
        "Data Sovereignty",
        "GDPR Compliance",
        "NIS2 Compliance"
      ]
    },
    {
      "@context": "https://schema.org",
      "@type": "WebSite",
      "@id": "https://fire-vault.com/#website",
      "name": "Firevault",
      "alternateName": [
        "Firevault",
        "Firevault UK",
        "Firevault Limited"
      ],
      "url": "https://fire-vault.com",
      "publisher": {
        "@id": "https://fire-vault.com/#organization"
      },
      "inLanguage": "en-GB",
      "description": "Protect what matters with Offline Secure Storage and control what moves with Control by Firevault. Physically disconnected, always reachable by you.",
      "potentialAction": {
        "@type": "SearchAction",
        "target": {
          "@type": "EntryPoint",
          "urlTemplate": "https://fire-vault.com/learn?q={search_term_string}"
        },
        "query-input": "required name=search_term_string"
      }
    },
    {
      "@context": "https://schema.org",
      "@type": "Service",
      "name": "Ransomware Protection",
      "description": "Offline secure storage provides architectural immunity to ransomware by physically disconnecting data from all networks.",
      "url": "https://fire-vault.com/threats/ransomware",
      "provider": {
        "@id": "https://fire-vault.com/#organization"
      },
      "areaServed": [
        {
          "@type": "Place",
          "name": "Europe"
        },
        {
          "@type": "Country",
          "name": "United Kingdom"
        },
        {
          "@type": "Country",
          "name": "United States"
        },
        {
          "@type": "Place",
          "name": "Middle East"
        },
        {
          "@type": "Place",
          "name": "Global"
        }
      ],
      "serviceType": "Ransomware Defence"
    },
    {
      "@context": "https://schema.org",
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://fire-vault.com/threats/ransomware#webpage",
      "url": "https://fire-vault.com/threats/ransomware",
      "name": "Ransomware Protection",
      "description": "Ransomware can't reach data that isn't online. Keep gold copies physically disconnected outside authorised access windows to help break the attack chain.",
      "isPartOf": {
        "@id": "https://fire-vault.com/#website"
      },
      "about": {
        "@id": "https://fire-vault.com/#organization"
      },
      "primaryImageOfPage": {
        "@type": "ImageObject",
        "url": "https://fire-vault.com/images/og/og-base-threats.jpg"
      },
      "inLanguage": "en-GB",
      "breadcrumb": {
        "@id": "https://fire-vault.com/threats/ransomware#breadcrumb"
      }
    },
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      "@context": "https://schema.org",
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      "@id": "https://fire-vault.com/threats/ransomware#breadcrumb",
      "itemListElement": [
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          "position": 1,
          "name": "Home",
          "item": "https://fire-vault.com"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 2,
          "name": "Threats",
          "item": "https://fire-vault.com/threats"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 3,
          "name": "Ransomware Protection",
          "item": "https://fire-vault.com/threats/ransomware"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
---

Recent Breaches 

Breaches 

[2026 PowerSchool 62.4M records ](/learn/breaches)[2026 DISA Global Solutions 3.3M records ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Globe Life 850K records ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Lidl GB Customer contact data ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Asahi Group Production systems disrupted ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Kido International 8K records ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Collins Aerospace (RTX) Check-in and boarding disruptio... ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Jaguar Land Rover Production and IT systems disru... ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Peter Green Chilled Order and logistics data ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Adidas UK Customer contact details ](/learn/breaches)[2026 PowerSchool 62.4M records ](/learn/breaches)[2026 DISA Global Solutions 3.3M records ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Globe Life 850K records ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Lidl GB Customer contact data ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Asahi Group Production systems disrupted ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Kido International 8K records ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Collins Aerospace (RTX) Check-in and boarding disruptio... ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Jaguar Land Rover Production and IT systems disru... ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Peter Green Chilled Order and logistics data ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Adidas UK Customer contact details ](/learn/breaches)

[View All →](/learn/breaches)

[![Firevault - offline secure storage, physically disconnected from the internet](/assets/logo-color-DBVl0KCg.png)](/)

Products

Solutions

[Why OSS](/why-oss)

More

[Help](/help)[Get started](/get-started)

[Back to the threat counter](/threats)

Threat brief 

# Ransomware. The digital pandemic. 

Every eleven seconds another organisation is hit. Ransomware has moved on from simple encryption into an extortion industry worth hundreds of billions.

The headline number 

44%

of breaches involve ransomware

Average ransom

£2.2M

Projected cost by 2031

£210B

Backups targeted first

Yes

44%

Ransomware present in breaches

£2.2M

Average ransom payment 2024

£210B

Projected cost by 2031

11 sec

Attack frequency

one attack, somewhere in the world

Evolution 

## Ransomware has become an industry

Four stages of escalation, each one adding a new way to apply pressure once the data is already gone.

Stage 1

### Encryption

Traditional ransomware encrypts files and demands payment for the decryption key. Simple but effective.

**Example:** WannaCry (2017) - Encrypted 200,000+ systems in 150 countries in one day

Stage 2 - Double Extortion

### Data Exfiltration

Modern ransomware steals data before encrypting. Pay to decrypt AND pay to prevent public leak. Two ransoms.

**Example:** REvil pioneered this, now used by 77% of ransomware groups

Stage 3 - Triple Extortion

### Business Disruption

Attack customers, partners, and suppliers. DDoS attacks on top of encryption and data theft. Maximum pressure.

**Example:** Vastaamo psychotherapy center - patients directly extorted after provider breach

The Industry

### Ransomware-as-a-Service

Ransomware is now a business. Groups sell tools and share profits with affiliates. Low-skill attackers can launch sophisticated attacks.

**Example:** LockBit operates like a franchise, with affiliate programs and customer support

Recent attacks 

## No organisation is immune

Hospitals, governments and household names. Ransomware does not discriminate.

### Change Healthcare

2024 

100M+ patient records exposed

Ransom

£17.5 million paid

Downtime

Weeks of healthcare disruption

### MGM Resorts

2023 

£79 million in losses

Ransom

Refused to pay

Downtime

10 days of casino operations down

### Royal Mail

2023 

International shipping halted

Ransom

Refused £63M demand

Downtime

6+ weeks of disruption

### City of Dallas

2023 

Police, court systems offline

Ransom

£6.7 million cost

Downtime

30+ days to restore services

## Backups are not enough. Go offline. 

Modern ransomware targets backups first. Connected backups can be encrypted or exfiltrated. Only a physically disconnected copy sits outside the reach of the attack.

[See how Offline Secure Storage® protects](/vault)[Why OSS is different](/why-oss)

![Mark Fermor](/assets/mark-fermor-aWtKNSv7.jpg)

![David Bailey](/assets/david-bailey-Dgqj8eaE.jpg)

![Kenny Phipps](/assets/kenny-phipps-CVyooRsR.jpg)

Online Now 

Concierge 

## Make ransomware irrelevant to your business

Discover how offline storage creates a copy that ransomware simply cannot reach.

Takes about 2 minutes. No account needed.

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