CybersecurityStudy finds nearly 90 percent of businesses victim of cyber attacks
A recent survey of information technology (IT) security professionals reveals that cyberattacks are on the rise and businesses have had difficulty defending their networks; 84 percent admitted to having been the victim of a cyber attack; these attacks have been costly causing a majority of companies an estimated $500,000 or more in lost revenues, cash outlays, business disruptions, and other expenses
A recent survey of information technology (IT) security professionalsreveals that cyber attacks are on the rise and businesses have had difficulty defending their networks.
The survey, conducted by the Ponemon Institute and sponsored by Juniper Networks, found that of the more than 1,000 IT security professionals polled, 84 percent admitted to having been the victim of a cyber attack. In addition nearly 60 percent admitted that their organizations had experienced multiple network breaches in the past twelve months.
These cyber attacks have been costly causing a majority of companies an estimated $500,000 or more in lost revenues, cash outlays, business disruptions, and other expenses.
The survey also indicated that attacks are on the rise with more than 43 percent revealing that they have experienced a sharp increase in the frequency of attacks in the last twelve months. In addition, 77 percent of respondents say the attacks have become more severe and difficult to detect and defend against which has led 34 percent to say that they had little confidence in their organization’s ability to protect their networks.
“Our survey research provides evidence that many organizations are ill-equipped to prevent cyber attacks against networks and enterprise systems,” said Dr. Larry Ponemon, chairman and founder of the Ponemon Institute. “This study suggests conventional network security methods need to improve in order to curtail internal and external threats.”
Mark Bauhaus, the executive vice president and general manager of Juniper Networks’ device and network services business group, added, “The size and complexity of today’s security threats continue to intensify, leaving organizations and governments vulnerable to cyber attacks.”
He continued, “Business leaders need to consider a more aggressive, systemic security approach—implementing end-to-end comprehensive protection at all points in the network to help mitigate risk.”
To help secure networks from attacks, 76 percent said that streamlining and simplifying network security operations would make them more secure and 75 percent said their effectiveness would increase by implementing end-to-end solutions.
In particular, mobile devices and laptops are the most likely entry points that hacker use to break into networks or unleash viruses. 34 percent of attacks originated from laptops and 29 percent from mobile devices.
