Barracuda Networks, Inc., a global leader in cybersecurity and threat protection for organizations of all sizes, has released new research revealing a strong link between delayed email breach responses and ransomware attacks. According to the Email Security Breach Report 2025, organizations that take more than nine hours to contain and remediate an email security breach face a 79% higher likelihood of also falling victim to ransomware.

The study highlights that 78% of surveyed organizations experienced at least one email-related security incident over the past year, with the average recovery cost reaching $217,068.

Cyber Technology Insights : RealDefense Introduces RemoveMe to Simplify Personal Data Removal and Continuous Privacy Protection

Smaller enterprises are bearing a disproportionate burden. Businesses employing between 50 and 100 staff spend an average of $1,946 per employee to recover from such incidents. In contrast, larger firms with 1,000 to 2,000 employees face a comparatively lower cost of $243 per person, though the total recovery expense remains significant.

Despite the growing sophistication of threats, many companies are struggling to detect and respond to incidents in time. Respondents cited the rising complexity of email-borne attacks, a shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals, and insufficient automation in incident response as key barriers that prevent quick threat containment and removal.

The research, conducted in partnership with Vanson Bourne, surveyed 2,000 IT and security decision-makers across North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region.

Cyber Technology Insights : KnowBe4 Student Edition Reaches One Million Students Trained Worldwide

Key Insights from the Report

  • 78% of organizations experienced at least one email security breach in the past 12 months.
  • 71% of those also suffered a ransomware attack within the same period.
  • 41% reported reputational damage, with some losing business opportunities and revenue as a result.
  • The average recovery cost per email breach stood at $217,068.
  • Only 50% of organizations were able to detect a breach within an hour.
  • Those taking nine hours or more to address a breach were 79% more likely to experience ransomware.
  • 47% said that advanced evasion techniques were the main challenge in rapid response.
  • 44% blamed the lack of automated response tools for delays in detecting, containing, and eradicating threats.

Cyber Technology Insights : Ighty Support Expands Core Offerings with SOC and MDR Services to Strengthen Cybersecurity

To participate in our interviews, please write to our CyberTech Media Room at info@intentamplify.com