Human Error Continues to be a Major Cybersecurity Risk, Says Verizon Report

Verizon releases annual Data Breach Investigations Report

Verizon has released its annual Data Breach Investigations Report, which found that human error continues to be a major cause of cybersecurity incidents. The report analyzed 41,686 security incidents and 2,013 data breaches that took place in 2019 across 81 countries.

The report highlights the following:

– A total of 22% of security breaches occurred as a result of human error, such as sending sensitive information to the wrong person or misconfiguring servers.
– Phishing attacks accounted for 36% of data breaches.
– Financially motivated attacks, such as ransomware, accounted for 86% of data breaches in the financial sector.
– Three industries – healthcare, public administration, and retail – accounted for 68% of breaches.
– Small businesses made up 28% of breaches, while large organizations accounted for 68% of breaches.

What does this mean?

While companies continue to invest in cybersecurity technology and infrastructure, it is important to remember that human error remains a significant risk. In fact, cybercriminals often exploit human vulnerabilities by using tactics such as social engineering to trick individuals into giving up sensitive information. Therefore, it is crucial for companies to prioritize cybersecurity training for their employees as well as implement strict policies and protocols to ensure safe handling of sensitive information.

Overall, the report shows that the cybersecurity landscape is constantly evolving, and businesses must remain vigilant in order to stay protected from cyber threats.

Original Article: https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/bec-volumes-ransomware-costs/