UK to Ban Ransomware Payments in Public Sector: What It Means for Cybersecurity Leaders

A bold move to disrupt the cybercrime economy—here’s what you need to know

The United Kingdom has taken a firm stance against ransomware. In July 2025, the UK government proposed a legislative ban on ransom payments by publicly funded organizations, including schools, municipalities, and critical infrastructure providers such as the NHS and energy networks.

This policy aims to cut off the financial lifeline of cybercriminals and reshape how both public and private sectors handle ransomware incidents.

‍

🛑 What’s included in the proposed ransomware payment ban?

• Public organizations would be legally prohibited from paying ransoms to attackers.
• Private companies would be required to report intended payments to law enforcement and obtain prior clearance.
• The policy introduces fines and potential criminal consequences for unauthorized transactions.
• Notifications would help authorities track threat actors and enforce international sanctions.

The initiative is partly a response to high-profile attacks, including the 2023 ransomware attack on the British Library and the 2017 WannaCry incident that crippled the NHS.

‍

Industry reactions and cybersecurity perspectives

Security experts have voiced a range of opinions:

• Dan Jarvis, UK Security Minister, described the move as a “clear message that ransomware won’t pay off.”
• Some cybersecurity professionals worry about “going dark”—where victims hide incidents and pay under the table.
• Law enforcement and national CSIRTs praise the effort to increase reporting and intelligence gathering.
• Others question its practicality, especially for organizations lacking backup or rapid recovery plans.

‍

Key risks and gaps

While bold, the proposal isn’t without limitations:

• It does not cover the private sector completely, potentially creating uneven threat surfaces.
• Threat actors may retaliate harder against public institutions, knowing they won’t receive payment.
• It’s unclear how this law applies to cyber-insurance, or if workarounds will emerge through third parties.

As with any deterrent model, its success depends on enforcement, transparency, and preparedness across the board.

‍

How organizations can prepare now

If your organization operates in the UK—or wants to align with this emerging best practice—consider these steps:

1. Develop a ransomware response policy that excludes payment options.
2. Implement immutable backups and segmented networks to reduce attack impact.
3. Establish direct lines of contact with law enforcement and national cybersecurity centers.
4. Conduct ransomware simulation drills to prepare decision-makers for a non-payment response.

‍

🔐 Apolo Cybersecurity: Your partner in ransomware resilience

At Apolo, we help both public and private organizations build effective anti-ransomware strategies:

• Ransomware threat modeling and response planning
• 24/7 SOC monitoring with real-time threat alerts
• CISO as a Service (CISOaaS) to ensure full executive alignment
• Threat-led Penetration Testing (TLPT) to identify exploitable paths
• Governance reporting to align with DORA, ENS, ISO 27001, and NIS2

Don’t wait for policy to force your hand—build ransomware resilience proactively.

👉 Request your free ransomware audit

‍