Mastercard, through its RiskRecon service, highlights that ransomware has evolved into a global, organized threat affecting every sector and geography. From public utilities and hospitals to government agencies and retail, no organization is immune — including their vendors and partners.

RiskRecon’s research team recently analyzed 7,158 ransomware incidents from 2015 to 2024, revealing how attackers exploit the weakest links in digital ecosystems: the supply chain.

A key finding shows that one in every 100 suppliers will experience a ransomware attack each year. This serves as a wake-up call for CISOs, procurement leaders, and risk managers. Even if an organization is secure, its operational resilience is only as strong as its third-party ecosystem.

The Importance of Focusing on the Supply Chain
The expanding attack surface in today’s digitally interconnected world means ransomware risk doesn’t stop at network perimeters. It moves laterally through vendors, suppliers, and partners. While many organizations enforce strict internal security protocols, they often lack visibility into external vendor practices.

Continuous third-party monitoring is now a foundational element of modern risk management.

Insights from the Research
RiskRecon analyzed 196,000 organizations across industries and geographies. The study uncovers six key lessons from a decade of ransomware attacks — from hygiene weaknesses to geographic blind spots and the importance of 24/7 security operations.

The conclusion is clear: ransomware risk is systemic, and managing the supply chain is critical to limiting its spread.

Reference by Riskrecon by Mastercard