Steve Chabinsky, former FBI adviser and partner and head of cyber security at law firm White & Case, said he is aware of "companies that create Bitcoin accounts in order to be prepared".
There is growing concern that it is cheaper and easier to pay a ransom than it is to report a breach to the police and the Information Commissioner's Office.
"It's not something organisations have publicly confirmed because it says 'we are willing to pay criminals in the event we are hit by ransomware'," said McAfee's chief scientist Raj Samani.
"However, it is certainly a practice we are aware is being done."
Chris Mayers, chief security architect at Citrix, thinks that the soaring value of bitcoin spells trouble. Its value has soared above US$17,000 (NZ$24,000).
"Businesses that have a stockpile of bitcoin in anticipation of a ransomware demand may now be tempted to cash in, given the surge in value," he said.
"This could raise the risk to businesses, given the continued growth in ransomware attacks, and a possible future rise in bitcoin prices.
"Equally, those that do have large stockpiles may be at risk of being raided specifically for bitcoin piles."
