75% of UK Firms Would Break Ransomware Ban, but SMEs Can Benefit from Resilience Focus

Introduction
This article reviews new Commvault research into ransomware payment bans and explains why building Cybersecurity resilience is a top priority for Small & Medium Enterprises. 

Ransomware bans backed, but not followed

New research from Commvault shows UK business leaders strongly support ransomware payment bans:

* 99% support a private sector ban
* 94% support a public sector ban
* 96% agree payments should be banned across both

But when facing a real attack, 75% admit they would pay a ransom if it was the only way to survive, even if criminal charges applied. Only 10% say they would comply with a ban in that situation.

Why this matters to SMEs?

Ransomware remains a growing threat to Small & Medium Enterprises:

* 43% of UK businesses experienced a breach or attack in the past year
* Recovery from a cyberattack takes 24 days on average
* Downtime can lead to bankruptcy for smaller firms

These pressures highlight the urgent need for better recovery readiness.

The upside for SMEs

Ransomware bans, if enforced, could push public and private sectors to strengthen defence and response. For SMEs, this opens opportunities:

* Better government support
34% of surveyed business leaders believe a ban would lead to increased state intervention and support for Cybersecurity readiness.

* Fewer attacks over time
33% believe bans would reduce the incentive for criminals, making ransomware attacks less common.

* Increased investment in recovery tools
98% of respondents said that cyber readiness and recovery are now top spending priorities. This includes backup systems, immutable storage, and rapid restore tools—all accessible to SMEs through modern hybrid-cloud services.

* Greater resilience, less risk
When resilience is built in, SMEs avoid relying on ransom decisions. This protects both data and reputation.

* More awareness and planning
Bans spark internal discussions on risk management. SMEs that plan ahead are more likely to survive and recover quickly.