Abstract
Ransomware is an evolving cyber threat that continues to challenge organizations in the United States (U.S.). This study examines ransomware trends and defense strategies across healthcare, finance, and education from 2019 to 2023. Using a mixed-methods approach that combines survey data from 154 professionals with industry reports, the study identifies healthcare as the most vulnerable sector, finance as sustaining the highest losses, and education as facing the longest recovery times. The rise of ransomware-as-a-service and artificial intelligence (AI) has increased the complexity of attacks. Effective defense requires a coordinated approach to technical, organizational, and regulatory measures that build adaptive resilience.