Ransomware Risk Assessment: Is Your Unstructured Data Secure?

Ransomware attacks continue escalating in complexity and volume. In the first nine months of 2025, there were 4,701 confirmed incidents, a 34% increase. Every business is a possible victim. As such, ransomware risk assessment is an ongoing exercise.

What you’re assessing is changing too, with unstructured data now a target.

Hackers are now targeting databases and unstructured data. That category consists of documents, PDFs, spreadsheets, and multimedia on endpoints and file servers. Such data frequently contains vital intellectual property, regulated information, and business-critical records.

If compromised or encrypted by malware, it would devastate operations. Organizations would could incur compliance penalties and reputational risk.

Modern ransomware encrypts data and demands payment to restore access. Network-level controls, traditional backup strategies, and signature-based endpoint are typical prevention methods.

However, they alone cannot do this consistently against these evolving threats. When your data resides across devices and file shares, there are too many gaps. To counter this, data security teams need a new approach. You want a solution that protects data continuously, is portable, and enforceable regardless of where data resides or moves.

The best way to protect from ransomware attacks is a good offense. Look for a platform that delivers persistent and transparent protection for all data types. Unstructured data can be in many repositories. You need a tool that discovers all of it across your enterprise.

Smartkey technology like this enables fine-grained control over file access. It limits data exposure even in complex environments.

Persistent Encryption

Another key component in minimizing ransomware risk is persistent encryption. Sensitive files remain encrypted both at rest and in transit. Rather than relying solely on perimeter defenses or disk-level encryption, this solution applies file-level cryptography that “travels” with the data. It stays with the data as it moves between systems, cloud storage services, shared folders, email, and removable devices.

Even if someone exfiltrates or accesses the files, their contents are unreadable without valid decryption keys.

Key Benefits of Persistent Encryption

• Follows the file: Protection stays with the file, even as it moves across networks or if you share it externally. It remains if copied to other devices, too. This creates a better way to secure data. It’s much more effective than traditional beyond traditional network boundaries.

• Supports regulatory compliance: You’ll meet compliance rules around protection and privacy with this solution. You’ll also have audit-ready reports.

• Universal enforcement: Enterprise-wide policies enforce persistent encryption automatically. It applies to specific file types, folders, or based on classification rules for consistent protection.

Transparent File Protection

Transparent encryption handles files at rest within defined secure locations. Examples include protected folders on endpoints or file servers. End users experience no disruptions to workflows.

When authorized staff access files, encryption/decryption happens automatically, keeping interactions seamless. When ransomware attempts unauthorized encryption or exfiltration, the system protects the files and makes them inaccessible.

Key Benefits of Transparent Encryption

• Integrates with directory services like Active Directory and file access controls to automatically enforce encryption wherever organizational policies require.

• Enables policy application to entire directories or specific content types, reducing administrative effort and mitigating risks from human error.

PKWARE Smartkey technology revolutionizes encryption key management. It offers granular access control for sensitive data.

Smartkeys are collections of cryptographic keys. They link to access control lists, enabling administrators to control authorization to decrypt, internally or externally.

Key Benefits of Smartkeys

• Granular access control: Administrators can grant, restrict, or revoke access at the file level for users or groups instantly, including external collaborators when needed.

• Automated key lifecycle management: Smartkeys integrate with enterprise identity platforms like Active Directory. This ensures decryption privileges align with user roles. If you remove access, it automatically rescinds.

•  Secure file sharing: You can share Smartkey-encrypted files securely with partners, legal teams, or customers. Recipients use a free PKWARE Reader application for access. Smartkeys validate authorized access, even if recipients don’t use PKWARE-managed endpoints.

• Enhanced security with multi-factor authentication (MFA): Smartkeys support MFA workflows for sensitive files. This adds an extra layer of protection against unauthorized access.

Smartkey management empowers data security teams to maintain rapid, controlled responses to incidents. They revoke access to compromised accounts, isolate data, and ensure lost or exfiltrated data remains inaccessible to attackers.

Strengthen defense against ransomware on endpoints and file servers with these best practices.

1. Automate Data Discovery and Classification

• Identify and classify sensitive files across the environment. PK Protect automated discovery and classification applies to spreadsheets, contracts, technical plans, healthcare records.
• Establish policies that apply persistent or transparent protection based on sensitivity labels, regulatory requirements, or business criticality.

2. Enforce Persistent Encryption for Unstructured Data

• Mandate persistent file encryption for files at high risk of ransomware or exfiltration. Protection travels with the file to remote locations, backups, and third-party shares.
• Centralize policy enforcement so that all files of a classification have automatic encryption as you create or move them.

3. Integrate Access Control with Enterprise Identity Systems

• Leverage PKWARE Smartkey technology to connect encryption controls to Active Directory or enterprise IAM platforms. This enables rapid onboarding and offboarding of users, ensuring access policies are always current.
• Revoke encryption keys from departing staff or compromised accounts without re-encrypting files, reducing operational burden and risk.

4. Deploy MFA for Highly Sensitive Files

• Require users to authenticate with two factors before accessing critical files, especially for data that if lost could invoke regulatory penalties.
• Enforce per-file or per-policy MFA, deterring attacks that compromise single credentials.

5. Monitor and Report on Data Protection Status

• Enable continuous monitoring of encryption status, access events, and policy compliance.
• Integrate PK Protect reporting into SIEM and incident management workflows. You’ll have rapid detection and response to threats or policy violations.

6. Respond to Ransomware Incidents Rapidly

Should ransomware infect endpoints or servers:

• Isolate affected devices from the network.

• Restrict Smartkey access immediately for affected accounts or file types with administrative controls.

• Restore compromised files from secure backups.

• Use PK Protect audit and reporting features to document incident response for regulatory compliance.

7. Educate Staff on Secure Data Handling

• Provide ongoing training on data classification, encryption, and safe data-sharing practices.
• Empower teams to recognize phishing and malicious attachments that are common ransomware infection vectors.

PK Protect provides persistent and transparent encryption and Smartkey access controls. It’s comprehensive protection for sensitive unstructured files across endpoints and file servers. It combines automated discovery, classification, and enterprise-scale key management. As a result, data security professionals can shield organizations from ransomware, minimize data exposure, and maintain compliance.

Deploying PK Protect strengthens data-centric security policies. It ensures rapid, granular response capabilities, and renders sensitive files useless to attackers. It’s a foundational component for any modern data protection and ransomware defense strategy.