AlfaStrakhovanie reported that 90% of cyber insurance claims filed between early 2025 and September 2026 involved the encryption of information systems. These incidents primarily affected companies operating within the industrial, retail, and financial sectors.
The insurer identified targeted attacks aimed at encrypting or destroying data as the most prevalent risk for businesses. Such incidents often lead to operational downtime, which causes significant revenue loss and threatens the financial stability of the affected enterprises.
Beyond direct operational halts, companies face unplanned expenses related to incident investigation, external expert consultations, and system restoration. Additional costs may arise from legal support and communications with regulators or clients.
Restoration processes remain time-consuming and costly even when backups exist, as teams must secure infrastructure and verify data integrity. In one case, a regional retailer lost access to retail, logistics, and accounting systems, forcing a temporary switch to paper-based records.
Vladimir Skvortsov, CEO of AlfaStrakhovanie, noted that no software provides absolute protection against cyberattacks. He emphasized a multi-layered approach involving technical defenses, data backup processes, staff training, and cyber insurance to mitigate potential financial losses.
