INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Almost half (47%) of UK IT directors would 'definitely' be willing to pay a ransom rather than report a breach to the authorities according
to new research from Sophos.With GDPR now in effect, businesses could actually end up paying more in penalties than they would to hackers
which is why so many IT directors have considered just paying a ransom to unlock their data from cybercriminals.Sophos's research also
revealed that 30 per cent of UK IT leaders would 'possibly' consider paying the criminals' ransom if it was lower than the possible penalty
Only one in five (18%) respondents completely ruled out paying off their attackers.Small businesses were least likely to consider paying a
ransomware demand with more than half (54%) of IT directors at UK companies with fewer than 250 employees ruling out paying their
attackers.Ransom over penaltiesOf the 906 IT directors and managers surveyed in Belgium, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, UK and Ireland,
UK IT directors are significantly more likely to pay than their counterparts in other Western European countries.Irish IT directors were the
least likely to pay with just 19 per cent saying they would 'definitely' be willing to pay a ransom over a larger fine.IT directors in
France, Belgium and the Netherlands were also less likely to pay a ransom
Only 33 per cent of respondents in France, 24 per cent of those in Belgium and 38 per cent of IT directors in the Netherlands said they
would 'definitely' be willing to pay.UK Managing Director at Sophos, Adam Bradley offered further insight on the findings of the study,
surprising that large companies appear to be those most likely to pay a ransom
