In 2025, the rise of AI-driven cybercrime has led to a significant escalation in ransomware incidents, compelling organizations to enhance their cyber defenses. A report from Acronis, released on February 18, 2026, highlights alarming trends in cyber threats, including a 16% increase in email-based attacks per organization and 20% per user compared to the previous year.
Phishing attacks, which constituted 83% of all email threats in the latter half of 2025, have emerged as the main vector for cyber breaches, affecting managed service providers (MSPs) with 52% of incidents attributed to this method. Additionally, advanced attacks on collaboration platforms soared from 12% in 2024 to 31% in 2025, indicating a shift towards exploiting secondary channels.
The report, based on data from the Acronis Threat Research Unit, also pointed out that the manufacturing, technology, and healthcare sectors faced the highest risks. Cybercriminals have begun incorporating AI into their strategies, using it for tasks like reconnaissance and social engineering, which has further complicated the cybersecurity landscape.