Ransomware attacks not only cause immediate downtime and significant financial losses, but can also inflict long-term damage on a company’s reputation and operations. A recent example is the cyberattack targeting Japan-based beer brewing giant Asahi, which resulted in a major data breach affecting more than 1.52 million customers.
Asahi’s CEO and President, Atsushi Katsuki, confirmed the incident and stated that the company may need up to three months—potentially until February 2026—to fully restore its operations. The attack disrupted critical IT systems, forcing Asahi to scale back its digital processes and rely on temporary, manual workflows.
The stolen data reportedly includes customers’ email addresses, physical addresses, and contact numbers, along with similar information belonging to certain employees and their family members. This broad exposure raises significant privacy and security concerns for all affected parties.
According to sources speaking with Cybersecurity Insiders, Asahi has been forced to process beverage orders via phone and fax, as the automated IT systems normally used for order management remain offline during recovery efforts.
Due to the operational disruption and expected financial hit, Asahi has also chosen not to publish its Q3 earnings report, anticipating that the cyberattack will lead to a particularly unprofitable year.
The Russia-based Qilin ransomware group has allegedly claimed responsibility for the attack, asserting that its hackers infiltrated Asahi’s servers, encrypted critical files, and extracted more than 27 GB of sensitive information.
Such stolen data can become a lucrative asset for cybercriminals, who may sell it to competitors or other malicious actors. Beyond the immediate damage, leaked information also creates long-term risks, such as targeted phishing and social engineering attacks against customers and employees.
In light of growing threats, businesses are strongly advised to adopt proactive cybersecurity measures, including automated threat monitoring, regular system audits, and comprehensive employee training. These steps can significantly reduce the likelihood of ransomware infections and help mitigate the impact when an attack occurs.