• by Ray Schultz , June 9, 2020

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.