Forewarned – armed
The FSB has issued warnings to Russian enterprises about ransomware-driven cyber assaults. A formal advisory and a checklist of protective steps are published on the National Coordination Center for Computer Incidents (NCCC) website, a body established by the FSB to coordinate incident response and defense.
The guidance emphasizes priorities and contingency actions designed to stiffen defenses against intrusion. In NCCCI’s message, urgent measures can substantially lower the likelihood of attackers breaching a company’s infrastructure.
Ransomware is a form of malicious software that infiltrates systems and locks up files through encryption. When files become unusable, essential operations falter, affecting finance, research, contracts, and other critical processes. The criminals behind ransomware demand payment in exchange for restoring access, creating a direct financial and operational threat to the victim organization. These operators are collectively known as ransomware actors.
The NCCCI has published its guidance at a time when Russian firms have endured an uptick in cyber incidents of varying severity. Observers point to recent breaches affecting major entities such as Wildberries, Miratorg, and the Federal Air Transport Agency as indicators of a broader attack surface being exploited by hijackers. Information security professionals note that the NCCCI serves as a primary responder and practical advisor, much like how central banks issue safeguards against fraudulent schemes. The emphasis is on timely, pragmatic actions that help organizations assess risk and reduce impact.
Oleg Skulkin, head of the Group-IB Digital Forensics Laboratory, notes a sharp rise in ransomware incidents since late February, with the number nearly tripling in certain periods. This aligns with ongoing threat activity and reflects a broader pattern of intensifying cybercrime. Denis Kuvshinov of Positive Technologies highlights that attacker collectives frequently publish campaign commitments on hacker forums and social networks, alongside ready-to-use tools. While most attacks begin as distributed denial-of-service or data intrusions, there is a real possibility that encrypted files could be held hostage within a network, heightening the stakes for affected firms.
new motifs
Experts observe that while Russian firms may appear less exposed than their Western counterparts, the trend of ransomware is not new. Skulkin notes that in 2021 the number of ransomware incidents in Russia more than doubled, signaling a persistent vulnerability. The current situation is characterized by selective public disclosures; many cyber assaults remain unreported within the country, which complicates risk assessment for managers and security teams alike.
Industry voices from other security vendors echo the same sentiment: new patterns are emerging in how encryption-based attacks unfold. Some analysts contend that earlier campaigns involved encrypting Russian infrastructure for ransom; the latest wave often involves irreversible data encryption, sometimes without recovery keys. The overarching aim appears to be to disrupt Russian trade and commerce as much as possible, which intensifies the social and economic impact of each incident.
Across the board, security professionals agree that the recommendations issued by the NCCCI carry weight and should be heeded, particularly given the ongoing escalation in cybercriminal activity targeting Russian entities. The insight from experts emphasizes proactive risk management, rapid containment, and robust backup strategies, underscoring the need for organizations to elevate readiness in the face of evolving ransomware tactics and attacker techniques. These conclusions stress the practical value of adherence to best practices and the importance of continuous vigilance in a dynamic threat landscape.