Trend Micro’s midyear report highlights the need for proactive security has detailed the threats from the first half of 2017, which continue to disrupt and challenge IT planning.
Businesses are faced with increased ransomware, Business Email Compromise (BEC) scams and Internet of Things (IoT) attacks, and now also contend with the threat of cyberpropaganda.
Trend Micro detected more than 82 million ransomware threats in the first half of the year, along with more than 3,000 BEC attempts, reinforcing the need for security prioritisation.
>See also: A four–step guide to securing your systems
Despite the rising percentage of security spending in IT budgets, a recent analyst report by Forrester notes that funds are not properly being allocated to address the growing threats facing enterprises today.
“Enterprises need to prioritise funds for effective security upfront, as the cost of a breach is frequently more than a company’s budget can sustain,” said Max Cheng, chief information officer of Trend Micro.
“Major cyber attacks against enterprises globally have continued to be a hot-button topic this year, and this trend is likely to continue through the remainder of 2017. It’s integral to the continued success of organisations to stop thinking of digital security as merely protecting information, but instead as an investment in the company’s future.”
In April and June, the WannaCry and Petya ransomware attacks disrupted thousands of companies across multiple industries world-wide. The global losses from the attack, including the resultant reduction in productivity and cost of damage control, could amount to as much as US$4 billion. In addition, BEC scams raised the total of global losses to US$5.3 billion during the first half of 2017, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
>See also: The new reality: how companies can protect themselves from cyber attacks
As predicted, January through June experienced a rise in IoT attacks, as well as the spread of cyberpropaganda. In collaboration with Politecnico di Milano (POLIMI), Trend Micro showed it is possible for industrial robots to be compromised, that could amount to massive financial damage and productivity loss, proving that smart factories can ill-afford to dismiss the importance of securing these connected devices. There was also an increased abuse of social media with the rise of cyberpropaganda.
Given the tools available in underground markets, the spread of Fake News, or bad publicity, will cause serious financial ramifications for businesses whose reputation and brand equity is damaged by cyberpropaganda.
