Switzerland has long been seen as a stable, well-regulated environment for business — but that reputation has not shielded its companies from the global ransomware epidemic. According to the latest report from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), ransomware incidents affecting Swiss organisations increased by 34% in 2025 compared to the previous year, with small and medium enterprises bearing the brunt of the surge.
Why SMEs Are the New Primary Target
The logic is straightforward: large corporations have invested heavily in endpoint detection, incident response teams, and cyber insurance that incentivises robust controls. SMEs, by contrast, often operate with a single IT generalist, limited security budgets, and no formal incident response plan. For ransomware operators, they represent a high-probability, lower-effort target.
Most Affected Sectors in Switzerland
The healthcare sector leads the statistics, accounting for 22% of confirmed ransomware incidents in Switzerland in 2025. Manufacturing follows at 18%, with professional services — law firms, accountants, fiduciaries — at 15%. Each of these sectors holds sensitive data and operates under time pressure that makes paying the ransom appear the fastest path back to normal operations.
◆ Key Takeaway
Healthcare, manufacturing, and professional services account for over 55% of all ransomware incidents in Switzerland. If your organisation operates in one of these sectors, the question is not if but when you will be targeted.
Practical Mitigation Steps
The most effective defences against ransomware are not exotic. They are disciplined execution of fundamentals. Organisations should prioritise: (1) offline, encrypted, tested backups; (2) network segmentation that limits lateral movement; (3) phishing-resistant multi-factor authentication; (4) a documented and practised incident response plan; and (5) supply chain due diligence — Swiss companies are increasingly compromised through trusted third-party vendors.