Security tool
Ransomware Cost Calculator
Estimate the true cost of a ransomware incident — downtime, recovery, ransom, and reputational impact — for your business.
Frequently asked questions
Where do these cost figures come from?
The model uses published 2024 SMB benchmarks: a $35/hour fully-loaded labor rate for lost productivity, prorated revenue loss across the downtime window, a ransom estimate based on the Sophos State of Ransomware median, and forensic, breach-notification, and insurance-uplift figures drawn from the Verizon DBIR and Coveware baselines. Your actual cost depends on industry, regulatory scope, and incident severity.
Does paying the ransom resolve the incident?
No. Paying recovers data in only some cases, and it does not cover the labor, lost revenue, forensic investigation, breach notification, or insurance impact this calculator estimates — which together usually dwarf the ransom itself. The most cost-effective control is preventing the incident with MFA, EDR, tested immutable backups, and a rehearsed response plan.
Want this handled for you?
Elevate manages IT & security for regulated Los Angeles firms.
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