Verizon has released its 16th annual Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR), which analyzed thousands of security incidents and breaches worldwide. The report reveals trends in cybercrime, such as the rising cost and frequency of ransomware, the doubling of pretexting (business email compromise) attacks, and the involvement of human error in most breaches.
Ransomware remains one of the top cyberattack methods, accounting for almost a quarter of all breaches (24%). Pretexting, which involves manipulating an organization’s sensitive information through tactics like phishing, has more than doubled since the previous year and represented more than 50% of social engineering attacks. The human element is still a major factor in 74% of total breaches, as hackers exploit the vulnerabilities of senior leadership, employees, and customers.
The report also provides insights on how organizations can protect themselves, highlighting the CIS Controls. Data in this report covers 16,312 security incidents and 5,199 breaches between November 1, 2021, and October 31, 2022.
The report highlights the continued need for organizations to develop, review, and refine their cybersecurity posture at multiple layers. Integrating people, processes, and technology to establish a comprehensive defense strategy, ensuring that potential vulnerabilities get addressed from multiple angles, greatly increases resilience against evolving cyber threats.
To view the report, please click here.
Chad Robinson
CISO/VP of Advisory
Secure Cyber Defense