Top Cyber Security Facts and Statistics

Undoubtedly, cyber security is a significant industry that companies can no longer function without. And while it is rapidly growing sturdier and evolving, cyber criminals are getting more skillful as well. The evolution is, unfortunately, going in both ways, which means the threats are going to become stronger and more frightening. 

Data protection has become a demanding matter more than ever, especially with the increase of remote employees. Cyber attacks come in different shapes and forms. Being aware of their nature is the first step to protecting yourself from potential scams or data breach. 

Protection is no longer restricted to the figures working in this industry, but everyone has become responsible in some way. Since understanding the dimensions of cyber security has become critical for everyone, we have gathered for you some statistics and cyber security facts anticipated throughout the upcoming years. 

Learning about these significant cyber security facts can go a long way in countering the constant attempts of hackers and cyber criminals. Take a look at the latest dismaying cyber security facts and statistics.

Cyber Security Facts and Statistics

1. Hacking Attacks Happen Every 39 Seconds on Average

Hacker attacks are more frequent than many people believe. These attacks can happen every 39 seconds on average, according to the University of Maryland. Among many facts, this fact was introduced after a study was conducted in a Clark School within the university. The study quantified the hacker attacks rate, claiming they increased due to unsecured passwords and usernames.

2. Small Businesses are the Bigger Targets

According to annual statistics, 43% of cyber attacks target small businesses rather than bigger ones. Among the multiple cyber attacks facts, this one is quite correct as it’s commonly known that start-up companies make the mistake of ignoring cyber security. Thus, they leave their data vulnerable and at a high risk of being breached.

3. Knowledge is the Best Defense

While the technical factor has its huge role in providing a thick protection layer, spreading knowledge among employees goes a long way. The cyber security facts released throughout the past years claim that many attacks can be countered when end-user education is properly implemented. Teaching the user to follow proper security practices is relatively significant. It trains the employees to distinguish between malicious attachments and secured.

4. Human Errors are the Backdoors to Cyber Criminals

Hackers are getting more skillful day after day. They know better than to attack the IT department who may be knowledgeable enough to counter their attacks. Instead, they search for the weakest link by infiltrating your company. Impersonating an entity is almost the famous hacking practice that usually works. Thus, they send an impersonating email to one of your unaware employees, who happens to be their backdoor to their sensitive data.

5. The Pandemic Significantly Increased the Percentage of Cybercrime

The pandemic was already threatening the survival of the human species, but that didn’t seem to be enough for cyber criminals. Ever since the start of the virus outbreak, more cyber attacks have been reported. According to the latest facts and statistics, the increase has exceeded 400% of the usual reports that used to occur before the start of the pandemic.

Cyber Security Facts and Statistics

6. Zoom User Accounts Have Been Compromised

Organizations have started using Zoom as their leading video conference platform since the beginning of the pandemic. Unfortunately, more than half a million of user accounts were compromised and had their data sold on the dark web. CPO Magazine announced this information along with other cyber attack facts that come with the dangers of remote working. 

7. A Small Percentage of Companies’ Folders Are Sturdily Protected

Among the alarming cyber security facts that were announced that only 5% of any companies’ folders have proper layers of protection. On the other hand, 95% of those folders can fall prey in the hands of hackers and cyber attackers. This large percentage leaves a great portion of confidential and sensitive data prone to breach.

8. Most of Organizations Have No Response Plans

It is quite obvious how cyber threats are significantly increasing and the cyber security facts and statistics are showing so. Unfortunately, 77% of organizations don’t have a response plan when a cyber attack incident takes place. They mistakenly believe that cyber criminals and hackers go after huge companies and not small organizations. 

9. Breaches of Healthcare Cyber Security Cost the Most

Security measures are critical for every company no matter what its industry is. However, cyber security facts and statistics claim that the healthcare sector suffers the most devastating financial loss. Data breach in this sector has been stated to reach an average of $7.13 million, which is much higher than the financial losses in other industries.

10. Remote Work Increased the Risk of Data Breach

Working from home has become the new thing since the start of the pandemic as a means to apply social distancing and reduce the risk of infection. However, employees taking their work home means higher chances of a data breach. The level of security at companies is much stronger and sturdier than that at home. Thus, networks have become more prone to attacks, increasing the average cost of data breaches by $137,000, according to cyber security facts and statistics.

Cyber Security Facts and Statistics 1

11. Only a Small Percentage of Organizations Can Deal with Cyber Risk

According to the latest revealed cyber security facts and statistics, only 16% of executives professed that their organizations can counter cyber attacks. They claim that dealing with the management of cyber risk is quite challenging, especially when industries are looking for growth. Such growth requires the adoption of the latest technologies, which happen to be as equally expensive as risky.

12. The Number One Most Targeted Industry is Healthcare

In fact, since the beginning of the pandemic, around 89% of healthcare organizations have suffered devastating data breach incidents. Criminals are well aware that this industry holds valuable information about the patients, including financial information. This claim supports the revealed cyber security facts and statistics, declaring that this sector has reached an average of $7.13 million loss due to data breach.