Cybersecurity Threats Increased in 2021

All LinkedIn Articles are posted by Victor J. Quinones, Jr., CEO, Chairman, and Co-Founder at Virtual-Q. Original article posted here.

You might think that because you’re a small business or a company with solid cybersecurity, data breaches don’t affect you—but you’re wrong. Last year, cybersecurity threats increased dramatically.

Discover how cyber attacks affected businesses of all sizes in 2021 so you can better prepare for 2022.

Cybersecurity Statistics From Last Year

Last year, businesses fell victim to cyberattacks more than any other year in history—and we’re expecting a similar trend in 2022. As technology constantly evolves, so do cyber attackers and their methods. Here are a few cybersecurity statistics from 2021:

43% of Cyberattacks Were Aimed at SMBs

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are a common target for cyber attacks because they don’t always have the cybersecurity budgets to protect their data, leaving it vulnerable to breaches.

Data Breaches Typically Go Undetected for Six Months

On average, it takes a company half a year to detect a data breach because the technology hackers use has become so advanced. Six months gives cyber attackers a lot of time to comb through your data and take valuable information.

For companies with little to no cybersecurity, data breaches could go undetected for much longer. Nearly 69% of businesses find the cost of preventing cyber attacks unsustainable, but a lack of prevention leaves gaps in cybersecurity that allow attacks to slip by unnoticed.

Nearly 91% of Cyberattacks Start With Phishing Emails

Phishing emails are emails that appear to be from a trusted source, but are actually from a cyber attacker trying to steal your personal or company information. Phishing scams are often disguised as:

Surveys
Marketing opportunities
Business emails (from PayPal, Uber, etc.)
Urgent upgrades
Messages from HR

Because they look like professional emails, many employees believe they’re real.

On Average, Companies Face 22 Security Breaches Per Year

Many businesses struggle to prevent security breaches because of their frequency, especially SMBs. When unauthorized users steal data, it’s expensive to get it back, so many companies are forced to accept the data loss.

Almost 65% of Businesses Have Over 500 Employees That Never Change Their Passwords

Neglectful employees are partially responsible for data breaches. If you don’t consistently change your password, your information is easier to steal.

Setting a strong password and changing it often is a small way to help protect your company’s data.

How Do I Protect Myself From Becoming a Statistic?

Now that you’re aware of how common and harmful data breaches are, you’re probably wondering: “What can I do to stop this from happening to me?”

Your first step is finding a flexible and experienced managed services provider (MSP) to help you navigate your cybersecurity needs. Virtual-Q is an MSP that implements high-quality security measures for companies of all sizes, including SMBs.

Whether you need to restructure your cybersecurity or create a data recovery plan, we’re here to help. With over 15 years of experience and award-winning service, we promise to provide the best cybersecurity available.

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