Fintan emphasizes: “Businesses — especially those in sectors like finance, manufacturing, and logistics — must prepare for an elevated threat level. They should also monitor closely as new norms develop.

“Even if ransom bans are not directly imposed on them, they may encounter heightened regulatory scrutiny, particularly regarding reporting obligations, breach disclosure, and customer communication.”

The challenge of divergence also emerges.

As European countries carve out their own regulations, the regulatory landscape is set to become increasingly fragmented, particularly affecting multinational organizations, which will face a complex web of obligations with varying timelines for breach reporting and differing liabilities based on jurisdiction.

“In this complexity, paying a ransom may appear to be a quick solution, but it is never the right choice,” Fintan cautions. “Such actions not only empower attackers but can also expose businesses to additional regulatory and reputational risks. Instead, the capability to coordinate a consistent and compliant response across borders will soon become the true indicator of operational maturity.”

Transforming resilience from technical to strategic

Fintan adds: “Regardless of whether a ransom ban impacts them directly, organizations — both public and private — should view the UK’s decision as an opportunity to reassess their approach.

“The landscape is evolving, and resilience is no longer optional.”

He states that the following should be prioritized:

• Resilience must extend beyond IT: Cyber resilience is not merely a technical issue; it’s a matter of business survival. Organizations need clear governance structures that outline how ransom decisions are made, who is informed, and how stakeholders are engaged. Preparing for cyber threats begins in the boardroom, not the data center.
• Recovery readiness is essential: Immutable backups, isolated environments, and rapid failover systems are crucial but often overlooked until it’s too late. These systems must be regularly tested — not just theoretically, but through comprehensive simulations that involve leadership and frontline teams.
• Threat actors will adapt: Expect an increased emphasis on data theft and reputational sabotage. This necessitates that organizations enhance their ability to detect early-stage intrusions, lateral movement, and unusual data flows.
• Regulatory fragmentation is on the horizon: Prepare for more detailed and disconnected rules regarding breach reporting, ransom policies, and supply chain risks. Coordinated governance, policy flexibility, and jurisdictional awareness will distinguish the reactive from the resilient.

Building a more secure and transparent ecosystem

Despite the immediate chaos and malicious actions appearing from all directions, Fintan remains optimistic.

“With mandatory incident reporting, we’ll start to gain a clearer understanding of the true volume, cost, and impact of attacks,” he shares. “That data can inform smarter regulation, targeted investments, and more accurate risk assessments across sectors.”

Forward-thinking leaders, Fintan adds, “will take this opportunity to engage closely with CISOs, clarify decision-making authority, and rigorously test incident response plans.”

He continues: “By promoting collaboration between CISOs, CTOs, and CIOs, they can foster shared responsibility throughout the organization, shaping the future of cyber resilience in Europe.”