Black Kite Unveils Ransomware Susceptibility Index: High-Risk Organizations Face 291 Times More Threats
In today's rapidly evolving cyber threat landscape, understanding the susceptibility of organizations to ransomware attacks has become paramount. Black Kite, a leader in third-party cyber risk management, has unveiled its findings on the Ransomware Susceptibility Index® (RSI™), demonstrating a stark correlation between RSI scores and the likelihood of experiencing ransomware incidents. The data reveals that organizations scoring above 0.8 on the RSI are an astonishing 291 times more likely to be targeted by ransomware compared to those scoring below 0.2.
For years now, the importance of real-time metrics in predicting cyber threats has been emphasized, and Black Kite's RSI serves as a pioneering model that goes beyond traditional questionnaires. Bob Maley, Chief Security Officer at Black Kite, notes, "Unlike static assessments that can misrepresent an organization’s actual security posture, RSI leverages real-time signals to provide an accurate reflection of risk. It measures not just what the vendors claim about their security but what attackers can actually perceive from the outside."
The process of deriving the RSI involves comparing an organization's external risk signals against the patterns observed in thousands of publicly disclosed ransomware victims. Over the past three years, rigorous real-world testing has shown an increasingly reliable predictive capability of the index. In 2023, the index indicated that organizations in the high-RSI category were 27 times more likely to be subject to ransomware attacks. This figure escalated to 96 times in 2024 and dramatically to 291 times in 2025.
What’s even more telling is the percentage of organizations that fell victim to ransomware based on their RSI scores. Among those with a high RSI, 41% faced attacks, whereas only a mere 0.14% of organizations in the low-RSI category were impacted.
Year-on-year validation shows the project's growing accuracy. The percentage of high-RSI organizations suffering from ransomware has remained continuously elevated, illustrating that higher susceptibility does correlate with actual attack risk. Meanwhile, the percentage of low-RSI organizations targeted has decreased significantly. This consistency emphasizes the model's efficacy in differentiating between organizations at high risk and those that are relatively secure.
The insights derived from the Ransomware Susceptibility Index can enable organizations to take proactive measures against potential ransomware threats. Higher scores on the RSI serve as an early warning signal, allowing risk management teams ample time to implement security measures before an attack occurs. This preventative capability is crucial in an era where businesses can ill afford the financial and reputational damage associated with ransomware incidents.
To further leverage the power of the RSI, organizations can access the tool through the Black Kite platform, which distills vast amounts of external risk signals from monitored entities. By utilizing the RSI rating, businesses can enhance their risk perception, enabling quicker and more informed decisions regarding cybersecurity strategies.
Black Kite continues to solidify its position in the cyber risk management arena by providing organizations with valuable insights necessary for safeguarding against today’s sophisticated cyber threats. Their ongoing research and enhancement of the Ransomware Susceptibility Index reflect a commitment to evolving alongside emerging threats, showcasing how essential it is for companies to measure and manage their cyber risks effectively in the connected world. Learn more about how to obtain your organization's RSI rating at blackkite.com/free-rsi-rating.
For years now, the importance of real-time metrics in predicting cyber threats has been emphasized, and Black Kite's RSI serves as a pioneering model that goes beyond traditional questionnaires. Bob Maley, Chief Security Officer at Black Kite, notes, "Unlike static assessments that can misrepresent an organization’s actual security posture, RSI leverages real-time signals to provide an accurate reflection of risk. It measures not just what the vendors claim about their security but what attackers can actually perceive from the outside."
The process of deriving the RSI involves comparing an organization's external risk signals against the patterns observed in thousands of publicly disclosed ransomware victims. Over the past three years, rigorous real-world testing has shown an increasingly reliable predictive capability of the index. In 2023, the index indicated that organizations in the high-RSI category were 27 times more likely to be subject to ransomware attacks. This figure escalated to 96 times in 2024 and dramatically to 291 times in 2025.
What’s even more telling is the percentage of organizations that fell victim to ransomware based on their RSI scores. Among those with a high RSI, 41% faced attacks, whereas only a mere 0.14% of organizations in the low-RSI category were impacted.
Year-on-year validation shows the project's growing accuracy. The percentage of high-RSI organizations suffering from ransomware has remained continuously elevated, illustrating that higher susceptibility does correlate with actual attack risk. Meanwhile, the percentage of low-RSI organizations targeted has decreased significantly. This consistency emphasizes the model's efficacy in differentiating between organizations at high risk and those that are relatively secure.
The insights derived from the Ransomware Susceptibility Index can enable organizations to take proactive measures against potential ransomware threats. Higher scores on the RSI serve as an early warning signal, allowing risk management teams ample time to implement security measures before an attack occurs. This preventative capability is crucial in an era where businesses can ill afford the financial and reputational damage associated with ransomware incidents.
To further leverage the power of the RSI, organizations can access the tool through the Black Kite platform, which distills vast amounts of external risk signals from monitored entities. By utilizing the RSI rating, businesses can enhance their risk perception, enabling quicker and more informed decisions regarding cybersecurity strategies.
Black Kite continues to solidify its position in the cyber risk management arena by providing organizations with valuable insights necessary for safeguarding against today’s sophisticated cyber threats. Their ongoing research and enhancement of the Ransomware Susceptibility Index reflect a commitment to evolving alongside emerging threats, showcasing how essential it is for companies to measure and manage their cyber risks effectively in the connected world. Learn more about how to obtain your organization's RSI rating at blackkite.com/free-rsi-rating.
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