The Energy Sector Isn’t Ready for Ransomware—and 2025 Proved It

The report describes a significant surge in ransomware and related cyber activity against the energy and utilities sector during 2025, documenting 187 confirmed ransomware incidents, multiple named ransomware groups (RansomHub, Akira, Play), active access brokers selling admin access, exploitation of known vendor vulnerabilities, and real-world operational impacts (e.g., Halliburton financial loss and heating outages). It highlights systemic causes—legacy OT, IT-OT convergence, distributed infrastructure, and slow patching—and recommends segmentation, monitoring criminal markets, faster patch management, and incident preparedness.