Arctic Wolf Threat Report 2025: What CEOs and Business Owners Need to Know

Today, Arctic Wolf released its highly anticipated 2025 Threat Report, and if you’re in business, this is a must-read. Arctic Wolf is a leading cybersecurity company focused on security operations, serving thousands of organizations globally. Known for its cutting-edge Arctic Wolf Aurora Platform, the company provides managed detection and response, risk management, and comprehensive security services to businesses of all sizes, from small enterprises to large government agencies.

Big news: On February 3, 2025, Arctic Wolf acquired Cylance, a leader in AI-powered endpoint security, from Blackberry Limited. This strategic move significantly enhances Arctic Wolf’s ability to deliver proactive AI-driven threat detection and endpoint protection as part of its security operations platform. This means better, faster, and more advanced security solutions for businesses looking to protect their critical assets.

At NCX Group, over the last five years, we have partnered with and utilized Arctic Wolf to provide our Security Operations Center (SOC) in our MyCSO Assurance and MyCSO Operations Services, ensuring our clients have best-in-class threat detection and response. With the recent acquisition of Cylance, Arctic Wolf’s AI-driven security capabilities are even stronger, helping businesses stay ahead of emerging cyber threats.

Here’s what you need to know—why ignoring cybersecurity is like leaving your house keys taped to the front door.

1. Ransomware is Getting Meaner (and More Expensive)

• In 2024, the largest ransom payout hit $75 million, more than double the previous record. (Imagine what you could do with $75 million… instead of paying cybercriminals.)
• 96% of ransomware attacks now involve data exfiltration, meaning hackers don’t just lock your files—they steal them first and threaten to leak them if you don’t pay.
• Mitigation Tip: Implement offline backups, enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA), and deploy advanced threat detection (like MyCSO Operations).

2. Business Email Compromise (BEC) is the New Bank Heist

• More financial losses now come from BEC scams than from ransomware.
• The finance and insurance industries were hit hardest, accounting for 53% of cases.
• Cybercriminals are getting crafty—AI-powered phishing emails and deepfake scams are on the rise.
• Mitigation Tip: Train employees on phishing scams, set up email authentication (DMARC, SPF, DKIM), and use transaction verification procedures.

3. Hackers Love Known Vulnerabilities (Patch Your Stuff!)

• A staggering 76% of intrusions were due to unpatched vulnerabilities—ones that already had fixes available.
• The top 10 vulnerabilities exploited last year weren’t even zero-days. (Translation: You had time to fix them.)
• Mitigation Tip: Regularly patch and update all software. If you’re not sure what needs patching, MyCSO Assurance has you covered.

4. The Financial Impact of Cyber Attacks is Growing

• The median ransom demand was $600,000.
• Arctic Wolf’s Incident Response Team successfully reduced ransom demands by 64%, with 70% of clients avoiding ransom payments altogether.
• Mitigation Tip: Have a cyber incident response plan in place before you need it. (Because negotiating with hackers isn’t fun.)

5. Most Cyber Attacks Are Preventable

• 76% of cases could have been prevented with better security hygiene.
• Many businesses still lack basic security controls like endpoint detection, strong passwords, and user access restrictions.
• Mitigation Tip: Invest in proactive security measures—because “hoping for the best” isn’t a strategy.

6. AI-Driven Threats Are Here to Stay

• AI-generated phishing emails are nearly indistinguishable from real ones.
• Deepfake attacks are being used for fraud—CEOs and CFOs, watch out.
• Mitigation Tip: Implement AI-based security solutions to counter AI-driven threats.

NCX Group & Arctic Wolf: A Partnership That Works

At NCX Group, we integrate Arctic Wolf’s powerful threat intelligence into MyCSO Assurance and MyCSO Operations, providing round-the-clock monitoring, threat hunting, and incident response for businesses of all sizes. With Arctic Wolf’s acquisition of Cylance, their AI-driven security solutions have been taken to the next level—ensuring businesses remain resilient in the face of cyber threats.

Final Thought: Cybersecurity is Like Insurance—You Only Regret Not Having It When It’s Too Late

Hackers aren’t slowing down in 2025, but that doesn’t mean your business has to be a victim. If you’re not sure whether your cybersecurity is up to par, let’s talk.

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?? The full Arctic Wolf Threat Report 2025 is available now—don’t wait until it’s too late to act. Let me know if you'd like to see the report.