Ransomware Moves up the Org Chart Managers Are Prime Targets
Ransomware Moves up the Org Chart: Managers Are Prime Targets 🚀
New Zscaler ThreatLabz research examines the early stages of a real-world ransomware attack. It reveals little about the employees compromised at the start of the attack, highlighting what makes those individuals valuable targets. ThreatLabz identified victims of a campaign associated with a ransomware group known for gaining initial access, stealing large amounts of corporate data, and selectively encrypting critical systems. This ongoing ransomware research by ThreatLabz sheds light on who those victims were and how their roles and authority could help an attacker move deeper into an organization.
Key Findings:
- Manager-level employees were most targeted: 62% of victims held managerial titles or above.
- Ransomware attackers pursue employees with business privileges—access and authority created by their roles and relationships.
- The value of a compromised managerial account lies in the breadth of business access associated with the position. Managers may approve payments, oversee budgets and vendors, review contracts, access sensitive records, or coordinate work across business units.
Victim Demographics:
- Gen X represented the largest share of victims: 44%. Victims ranged from 23 to 70 years old, with an average age of 46.
- The larger share of Gen X victims may be due to their established managerial or higher-level positions, giving attackers access to valuable systems, data, and decision-making authority.
- Half of the victims worked in industrials or IT: 50%. The industry breakdown of victims spans several sectors, with industrials and IT representing 35.5% and 14.6%, respectively.
Understanding which employees ransomware groups are targeting provides important insight into where business access creates exposure. It also reveals where stronger protections are needed to prevent one compromised account from leading to data theft, encryption, or wider disruption.