This whitepaper presents findings from a survey conducted among 110 IT and cybersecurity leaders in Brazil, focusing on their experiences with ransomware attacks over the past year. The survey, which is part of a broader study involving 3,400 respondents, reveals key statistics about ransom demands and payments, highlighting a significant decrease in both the median ransom demand and payment compared to the previous year. The report details the common technical and operational causes of ransomware attacks, with exploited vulnerabilities and known security gaps being the most frequently cited reasons. Additionally, it discusses the impact of these attacks on organizations, including the financial costs associated with recovery and the emotional toll on IT teams. The paper concludes with recommendations for improving defenses against ransomware, emphasizing the importance of prevention, protection, detection, response, and preparation for potential incidents.