Ransomware Gangs Ta
rget SMBs with Double Extortion
Why this is trending for small and midsize businesses
Ransomware attackers are changing tactics, and small and midsize businesses (SMBs) are in the crosshairs. Now, gangs do not just encrypt files; they also steal data and threaten to leak it if you do not pay.
Introduction
Ransomware attacks against SMBs now frequently involve data theft and threats to expose sensitive information, not just file encryption. These “double extortion” tactics often disrupt business operations and lead to costly ransoms that many SMBs are not prepared to handle.
Because of this, SMBs must look at ransomware as both a business continuity threat and a data exposure risk. At the same time, they should update security strategies, test response plans, and work closely with their IT partners to reduce impact.
Why It Matters Now
Double extortion is rising because attackers want more leverage, and SMBs often have fewer defenses. So, they are easier targets and more likely to pay quickly to avoid downtime and public exposure.
This trend is serious for SMBs, since it blends operational disruption with data and regulatory risk. When attackers steal sensitive information and threaten to publish it, the conversation shifts from “can we restore our files?” to “what happens if our client and employee data goes public?” Consequently, SMB executives must treat ransomware as a board-level risk, not just an IT issue.
The threat is also evolving quickly. Therefore, decision-makers need to stay informed through credible cybersecurity sources such as SentinelOne (see: https://www.sentinelone.com/blog/new-ransomware-tactics-double-extortion-small-business/). Even if your business has not yet been hit, attackers are actively refining techniques that target organizations your size and in your industry.
Business Risks of Ignoring This Issue
Double extortion raises the stakes for SMBs beyond simple downtime. When data is stolen and used for pressure, every hour without a plan increases the cost and complexity of recovery.
If your organization ignores this issue, you face several interconnected risks that can compound quickly:
- Extended operational disruption – Not only are your systems encrypted, but you may also feel forced to halt operations while you assess what data was stolen and what you must report.
- Higher ransom pressure – Because criminals hold both your encrypted systems and your stolen data, they have two ways to hurt your business and push you to pay.
- Regulatory and legal exposure – If sensitive data is accessed or leaked, you may face scrutiny from regulators and possible legal action, especially if you cannot show you took reasonable security steps.
- Reputation damage and client churn – When customers learn their data may have been exposed, trust can erode quickly, and competitors can step in.
- Increased future targeting – If your business is seen as an easy mark, attackers may come back or sell that knowledge to other groups.
Because of these risks, it is not enough to hope backups will save you. Instead, you need a layered approach that includes robust backup and disaster recovery, up-to-date endpoint security, zero-trust access models, and clear response playbooks you have already tested.
How Dynamic Solutions Group Is Solving This for Clients
Double extortion attacks demand both preparation and practice. Dynamic Solutions Group (DSG) helps SMBs design and test realistic protections and responses so you are not making critical decisions for the first time during a crisis.
First, DSG emphasizes robust backup and disaster recovery. While attackers may steal data, reliable and well-structured backups are still essential to restore business operations after an incident. In practice, this means working with you to make sure backups are frequent, protected, and aligned with your operational needs so you can get back to work faster.
Next, DSG works with clients to deploy and maintain up-to-date endpoint security. Since ransomware frequently starts on endpoints, such as laptops and workstations, keeping endpoint protection current is one of the most effective ways to reduce the chance of an attack succeeding. Because threats evolve, ongoing updates and tuning are just as important as the initial deployment.
DSG also helps SMBs move toward zero-trust access models. Under zero trust, access is not assumed; instead, it is verified and limited. For SMBs, this approach can reduce the ability of attackers to move across your environment if they do gain a foothold. By limiting who can access what, and when, you make it harder for ransomware gangs to find and steal your most sensitive data.
Beyond technical controls, DSG supports clients in building response playbooks tailored to their business. These playbooks define roles, decision paths, and communication steps for a ransomware event, including double extortion scenarios. As a result, leadership and IT teams know who does what, in what order, and what options they have if attackers demand payment.
Finally, DSG runs tabletop exercises with clients to simulate attacks and walk through the response. These exercises help reveal gaps, clarify decision-making, and build muscle memory. When a real incident occurs, your team is better prepared to respond calmly and effectively, rather than react under pressure for the first time.
Throughout this work, DSG keeps a strong focus on the high SMB risk and regulatory implications of ransomware. That means helping you think through how an incident might affect your industry obligations, contracts, and stakeholder expectations, even though specific regulatory details may vary.
For more insight into how attackers are changing their tactics, DSG also monitors industry sources such as SentinelOne and their guidance on new ransomware approaches, including double extortion: https://www.sentinelone.com/blog/new-ransomware-tactics-double-extortion-small-business/.
Questions SMB Leaders Should Ask Their MSP
Use these questions as-is with your current or prospective managed service provider (MSP). Copy, paste, and discuss them in your next meeting:
- Do we have robust backup and disaster recovery in place that is designed to handle a ransomware event, including double extortion?
- How are you ensuring our endpoint security is up to date and capable of addressing modern ransomware tactics?
- What steps have you taken to move our environment toward a zero-trust access model, and where are the gaps?
- Do we have a documented ransomware response playbook, and who on our team understands their role in it?
- How often do you run tabletop exercises with us to test our response to ransomware and data theft scenarios?
- How are you helping us understand and prepare for the regulatory implications if our sensitive data is stolen or exposed?
These questions are designed to shift the conversation from “Are we protected?” to “How will we respond and recover when—not if—someone targets us?”
Take the Next Step
Double extortion ransomware is now a real and growing threat for SMBs, blending operational disruption with data exposure and regulatory concerns. However, with the right mix of backup and disaster recovery, endpoint security, zero-trust access, and tested response playbooks, you can dramatically improve your resilience.
Contact Dynamic Solutions Group today to review your current protections, plan tabletop exercises, and build a ransomware response strategy that fits your business and risk profile.
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