Ransomware is afflicting increasing numbers of businesses, causing downtime and other consequences, according to State of Email Security, a study from Mimecast.
Of the companies surveyed,
51% had been affected by ransomware in the last 12 months. And 60% saw an increase in email-borne impersonation fraud, with email attacks increasing by 30% in the first 100 days of the COVID-19
pandemic.
In addition, 32% of firms suffered two to three days of downtime due to ransomware, and 82% faced downtime from an email attack.
The sectors most impacted by attacks
were:
- IT — 63%
- Construction — 56%
- Energy — 55%
- FinServ — 52%
Mimecast also reports
that 58% saw an increase in phishing attacks, and that 60% were hit by an attack that spread from an infected user to another.
The U.S. leads in expecting an increase in web an email spoofing
attacks, with 55% on alert. Next are the UK (54%) and Saudi Arabia and UAE (53%).
The study also reveals that:
- 31% suffered data loss due to lack of cyber resilience
preparedness.
- 55% do not provide awareness training to employees on a frequent basis.
- 60% believe it is inevitable they will be hit by an email attack in the next year.
- 59% experienced a Microsoft 365 outage in the last 12 months.
On a positive note, 97% are aware of DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance). However,
only 28% are now employing it.
Mimecast surveyed 1,025 IT decision makers.