As time goes on, the cybersecurity industry has seen massive ongoing change. With these rapid changes, businesses need to use more resources to fight cyberattacks. What is truly important here is information and understanding of the risks for all companies.
1. 95% Of All Breaches are from Only 3 Industries
In 2016, 95% of all breaches came from government agencies, retail companies, and the technology sector. These three groups are usually targets because they aren't easy prey, but they typically hold many pieces of sensitive data.
2. Every 39 Seconds, an American falls Victim to Hacking
The University of Maryland's Clark School study found that an American was a victim of hacking every 39 seconds. Over one year, this worked out to be that one-third of Americans were hacked or had experienced some breach, usually because of not updating passwords, leaving them compromised to a cyberattack.
3. Small Businesses are Frequent Targets
It's not uncommon for small business owners to assume they're just too small or insignificant to be a target; the truth couldn't be farther from it. A small business is a company with 500 employees or fewer; cyberattacks can cost a firm of this size about $7.68 million per attack.
43% of cyber attacks target small business
64% of companies have experienced web-based attacks
62% experienced phishing & social engineering attacks
59% of companies experienced malicious code and botnets
51% experienced denial of service attacks
4. Cyberattacks are making Hackers Rich, Really Rich
For many small and medium businesses (SMBs), a data breach's average cost will b about $3.9 million; for many companies, this can be crippling, forcing many to close their doors.
The price is much higher for publicly-owned companies, at $116 million on average. Cyberattacks cost $6 trillion for just 2021 alone, not too shabby of a payday.
5. Since COVID-19, Cyberattacks have Skyrocketed
From the arrival of COVID-19, the FBI has seen a jaw-dropping 300% increase in cyberattacks, with summer 2021 seeing over 12,377 scams. With many companies trying to survive an ongoing pandemic, many hackers have taken this time as an opportunity to attack vulnerable networks and even personal homes.
6. Information in the Wrong Hands
Whenever an attack happens, sensitive information can easily fall into the wrong hands. Over 9.7 million healthcare records were stolen in a massive breach in September 2020 alone. Most companies take about six months to recuperate from an attack; sometimes, a firm's reputation doesn't recover.
7. Educating Your Employees is the Best Defense
When it comes to phishing attacks, a business's best defense is ensuring its employees know what to look for. It's as simple as that: having employees understand what to look for and the implications of an attack, everyone knows attacks are no laughing matter.
8. Companies are crying out for Cybersecurity Experts
Across the world, there are about 4 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs, with many companies crying out for experts to join their organizations. In the United States, over 500,000 cybersecurity jobs are going unfilled.
Over the last five years, over 74% of these positions continue to increase. Cybersecurity engineers earn an impressive $140,000 annually, the highest-paid jobs.
9. Human Error Common Cause
The most common cause, over 95%, is human error in most cyberattacks. Cybercriminals and hackers always look for the weakest link, almost always any department besides IT.
My Thoughts
About five years ago, Ginni Rometty, IBM's chairwoman, president, and CEO, said, "Cybercrime is the greatest threat to every company globally." It's chilling how right she was because cybercrime has become the most significant threat for every business over the next five years. As technology evolves rapidly, so do hackers grow just as quickly.
Hungry for more? Join me each week, where I'll break down complex topics and dissect the latest news within the cybersecurity industry and blockchain ecosystem, simplifying the world of tech.
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