Cybersecurity Statistics By Small Business, Ransomware, GDPR, AI, Job Opportunities, Interruption, Security Investment and Facts

Barry Elad
Written by
Barry Elad

Updated · Jan 07, 2025

Rohan Jambhale
Edited by
Rohan Jambhale

Editor

Cybersecurity Statistics By Small Business, Ransomware, GDPR, AI, Job Opportunities, Interruption, Security Investment and Facts

Introduction

Cybersecurity Statistics: Cybersecurity is now a crucial part of everyday life because as technology grows, the risk of cyber threats also increases. Both individuals and organizations must take steps to protect their digital assets and sensitive information from potential attacks. When talking about cybersecurity, it’s common first to explain why it’s important, what types of threats and weaknesses exist, and how risks can be managed.

This includes understanding the roles that both people and businesses play in protecting data, the need for regular updates and security patches, having strong ways to confirm identities, and teaching people about cybersecurity. In conclusion, it’s important to remember that cybersecurity is a continuous process, and we must always stay alert and adjust to new risks. We shall shed more light on Cybersecurity Statistics through this article.

Editor’s Choice

  • Cybersecurity investments are expected to go over $188 billion by 2023. In the same year, there will be around 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs.
  • Cybersecurity Statistics stated that almost 65% of board members think their organization is at risk of a cyberattack.
  • Nearly 70% of companies are facing a shortage of workers in their security teams. This shortage affects 94% of security departments and 93% of research and development teams.
  • A survey by ISC2 showed that 77% of security professionals are happy with their jobs, up from 66% in 2019.
  • Also, 55% of cybersecurity workers started their careers in IT before moving into security.
  • 69% of Managed Service Providers (MSPs) say their clients are having trouble with compliance. Google and Microsoft have promised to invest more than $60 billion in cybersecurity tech over the next five years.
  • The global market for automotive cybersecurity is expected to hit $9.7 billion by 2023. The Internet of Things (IoT) market is expected to grow by 18%, reaching 14.4 billion connections worldwide by 2022.
  • Cybersecurity Statistics stated that almost 44% of those surveyed said they don’t offer cybersecurity training for remote work concerns.
  • A cyberattack happens about once every 11 seconds. Nearly 60% of businesses have faced a ransomware attack this year.
  • In North America, ransomware attacks have increased by 15% this year.
  • The average cost of a successful attack on an IoT (Internet of Things) device is more than $330,000.
  • Data breaches from phishing attacks cost companies around $4.88 million on average.
  • The largest known data breach affected over 3 billion user accounts.
  • A report from the CFO shows that 55% of cybersecurity professionals have experienced higher stress due to the growing number of cybersecurity threats and challenges.
  • The global number of security weaknesses increased from 21,518 in 2021 to 23,964 in 2022.
  • Cyber extortion affects larger companies the most (40%), followed by smaller businesses (25%) and medium-sized companies (23%).
  • Internal employees, both intentional and unintentional, are responsible for 37.45% of security incidents.
  • Hacktivist attacks mostly targeted Europe (85%), with North America (7%) and the Middle East (3%) next.
  • Small companies (1250 employees) are the biggest targets for malicious emails.
  • The cybersecurity market is expected to reach $300 billion this year.
  • Attacks on cloud systems have increased by 75% between 2023 and 2024.

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General Cybersecurity Statistics

  • The global cybersecurity market is predicted to grow to around USD 533.9 billion by 2032, up from USD 193 billion in 2023, with an annual growth rate of 11% from 2022 to 2032.
  • Cyber-attacks occur often, with hackers launching an attack every 39 seconds. Healthcare is still the main target for ransomware attacks.
  • Around 92% of malware is spread through email, and at any moment, 4.1 million websites are infected by malware.
  • It usually takes about 49 days to detect a ransomware attack. Hackers stole $29 million from a fintech company.
  • Cybersecurity Statistics stated that over 90% of successful cyberattacks exploit vulnerabilities that have not been fixed.
  • It takes about 277 days, on average, to detect and resolve a data breach.
  • Small businesses spend about $500 on security, but the cost of a data breach can be nearly $5 million.
  • Hackers discover new weaknesses every 17 minutes.
  • The global cybersecurity market is expected to reach USD 533.9 billion by 2032.
  • During the pandemic, about 60% of internet users felt more at risk of having their data stolen.
  • A cyberattack happens every 39 seconds somewhere in the world.
  • Ransomware attacks occur globally every 14 seconds.
  • Small businesses usually spend under USD 500 on cybersecurity.
  • Cybercrimes have cost the world USD 2 trillion so far.
  • More than 75% of cyberattacks start with a phishing email.
  • In 2023, companies with over USD 5 billion in revenue spent about USD 250 million annually on cybersecurity.
  • Cybersecurity Statistics stated that almost 71% of businesses spend less than USD 250 million on security each year.
  • By September 2023, 91% of companies around the world had experienced at least one cyberattack.

cybercrime-expected-to-skyrocket (Reference: statista.com)

  • WordPress plugins are responsible for 97% of security breaches. Additionally, $3 billion in cryptocurrency has been stolen through hacks.
  • Looking ahead, 66% of Chief Information Officers (CIOs) plan to spend more on cybersecurity. For remote work, 74% of IT experts believe it creates a serious cybersecurity risk.
  • 70% of cybersecurity experts say a shortage of skilled IT workers impacts their company.
  • Out of those, 56% faced significant or moderate damage.
  • Cybersecurity Statistics stated that almost 55% of businesses said that cybersecurity rules help them innovate securely.
  • T-Mobile had the most data breaches in 2023.
  • Yahoo had a huge breach in 2013, affecting 500 million accounts.
  • Spending on cybersecurity training for employees is expected to reach USD 10 billion by 2027, up from USD 5.6 billion in 2023.
  • There were around 3.5 million open cybersecurity job positions in 2023.
  • By 2025, the global cost of cybercrime could rise to USD 10.5 trillion.
  • Many cyberattacks happen because security is weak.
  • It usually takes 197 days to discover a breach. Fixing it within 30 days could save up to USD 4.25 million while waiting longer can cost even more.

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Small Business Cybersecurity Statistics

  • 43% of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) don’t have a plan to protect against cyberattacks.
  • 60% of small businesses that experience a cyberattack close down within six months.
  • 89% of managed service providers (MSPs) say ransomware is the biggest threat to small businesses.

most-frequently-encountered-consequences-of-cyber-attacks-on-small-businesses (Reference: businessdasher.com)

  • Small businesses get more malicious emails compared to larger organizations.
  • 43% of cyberattacks target small businesses.
  • 47% of small businesses lack the IT knowledge to protect themselves from cyberattacks.
  • It’s expected that 146 billion records will be exposed through data breaches from 2018 to 2023.
  • If a cyberattack happens, 54% of small businesses wouldn’t know how to handle it because they don’t have a plan.
  • Cybersecurity Statistics stated that nearly 65% of small businesses have not updated their cybersecurity strategies after experiencing a breach.
  • Surprisingly, 91% of small businesses don’t have cyber liability insurance, which leaves them unprotected from cyberattacks.
  • In 70% of cyberattacks, criminals use web applications or other common errors to target small businesses.
  • Small businesses are targeted 43% of the time, but only 14% have a strong defence plan in case of an attack.
  • Small and micro-businesses aren’t prepared to defend against cyberattacks, with 81% of employees not receiving enough cybersecurity training.
  • Only 22% of small businesses encrypt their data to protect important business information.

longtail-cost-of-cyber-attacks (Source: businessdasher.com)

  • UK SMEs face 65,000 hacking attempts daily, with 4,500 of them being successful.
  • Cybersecurity Statistics stated that almost 60% of small businesses say they face more complex and severe cyberattacks each day.
  • 14% of small businesses rate their ability to manage cybersecurity attacks as highly effective.
  • Only 38% of small businesses regularly update their software and take steps to prevent attacks.
  • Vodafone UK found that an average cyberattack costing £3,230 could destroy 23% of UK small businesses.
  • 25% of small businesses in the UK have no plans to review or improve their cybersecurity strategy anytime soon.
  • 70% of small businesses aren’t ready to handle a potential cyberattack.
  • 83% of data breaches targeting small businesses are financially motivated.
  • 22% of the biggest 200 cyberattacks in the UK happened to small businesses.

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Ransomware Attack Statistics

  • The typical ransom payment has gone up significantly, from $812,380 in 2022 to $1,542,333 in 2023.
  • In March 2023, the number of people affected by ransomware attacks was almost twice as high as the year before.
  • More than 300,000 Android users have downloaded apps containing banking malware from the Google Play Store.

C10s-share-of-all-ransomware-revenue-by-month-2023 (Source: chainalysis.com)

  • Around 24,000 harmful mobile apps are blocked every day on the internet.
  • Between November 2021 and October 2022, Microsoft Office apps were the most commonly targeted, accounting for 70% of global attacks.
  • Cybersecurity Statistics stated that almost 94% of malware is delivered through email.
  • The average cost to recover from a ransomware attack in 2024 is expected to be $2.73 million.
  • Only 8% of businesses that pay hackers receive all of their data back.
  • From November 2021 to October 2022, Microsoft Office apps were the most frequently attacked, making up 70% of global exploits.

total-valued-received-by-ransomware-attackers-2019-2023 (Reference: chainalysis.com)

  • 75% of organizations dealt with at least one ransomware attack last year.
  • About 20% of all new domains that were resolved in the first half of 2022 were flagged as dangerous.

GDPR Cybersecurity Statistics

  • Spain gave out 212 fines for GDPR violations in 2021, which is three times more than any other country.
  • In 2023, the total amount of GDPR fines reached 2.1 billion euros.
  • Criteo, a big ad-tech company, was fined over $42 million for breaking GDPR rules.
  • 88% of companies spent more than $1 million to prepare for GDPR.
  • In the first year of GDPR, 144,000 complaints were filed, and 89,000 data breaches were reported.
  • Many US news sites suffered long-term losses after blocking EU users in response to GDPR.
  • The total fines for GDPR violations in its first year were $63 million.
  • Meta was fined $1.3 billion in 2023 for breaking GDPR rules.
  • In 2023, TikTok was fined for breaking several GDPR rules, including not protecting children’s data properly.
  • Spotify was fined over $5 million in 2023 for breaking GDPR rules.
  • Cybersecurity Statistics stated that almost 94% of US companies are not ready to follow GDPR rules.

Business Interruption and Security Investment Statistics

  • 45% of experts believe cyberattacks are the biggest cause of business disruptions, even more than natural disasters or power outages.
  • Spending on cybersecurity and risk management is expected to increase by 14.3% in 2024, reaching over $215 billion.

what-are-the-main-reasons-that-your-organizations-invests-in-cyber-security (Reference: researchgate.com)

  • 53% of companies now have cybersecurity as part of their main business transformation team, showing that it is becoming essential for their overall strategy.
  • Another 53% of companies make sure they get cybersecurity approval before launching any new products or services, showing they are taking a proactive approach to managing cyber risks.
  • Only 39% of companies work with government agencies on cybersecurity policies in response to global political tensions.
  • 35% of companies add security measures from the start of their transformation projects, while 18% wait until later, showing different strategies for securing digital changes.

what-causes-of-business-interruption-do-you-fear-most (Reference: allianz.com)

  • 44% of business leaders believe it’s important for Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) to explain cybersecurity risks to CEOs and Boards, highlighting the growing role of security in business decisions.
  • The impact of global tensions is also seen in supply chains, physical infrastructure, and external networks. 54% of companies say third-party vendors and external networks are the most vulnerable to cyberattacks.
  • 27% of cyberattacks led to extortion, with the manufacturing industry being the most affected.
  • Cybersecurity Statistics stated that almost 26% of cyberattacks targeted vulnerabilities in public-facing applications.
  • 19% of cyberattacks involved stealing data, showing the growing importance of protecting sensitive information.

Artificial Intelligence in Cyber Security Statistics

  • Cybersecurity Statistics stated that almost 51% of security leaders believe AI-driven cyberattacks are the biggest risk they face. However, 35% of them feel least ready to defend against these attacks compared to other risks.
  • According to company leaders, the main factors that will affect their cybersecurity strategies in the next two years are AI and machine learning (20%), more use of cloud technology (19%), and better user identity and access management (15%).
  • Only 26% of people surveyed have used new technologies like AI, machine learning (ML), or blockchain for security over the past year.

artificial-intelligence-ai-in-cybersecurity-market-size-2023-to-2034 (Reference: precedenceresearch.com)

  • Nearly 76% of security professionals in the US, UK, and Australia think AI and ML are improving information security.
  • Cybersecurity Statistics stated that almost 64% of these security professionals are planning to increase their budgets for AI and ML security tools in the coming year.
  • 25% of security experts say managing and securing new technologies like AI and ML is a challenge, which may explain why adoption has been slow.
  • 13% of respondents are using security and compliance measures to adopt these new technologies safely, and this number is expected to grow as more technology is used and regulations are enforced.

potential-uses-of-ai-in-cybersecurity (Reference: precedenceresearch.com)

  • 84% of CIOs and senior IT leaders have already started adding AI to their tech systems.
  • Cybersecurity Statistics stated that almost 40% of these leaders’ main worry with AI is protecting data from being compromised.
  • In a survey of CIOs and IT leaders across different industries, one of their top goals for the second half of 2024 is to assess and use AI within their businesses.
  • 81% of companies have put AI usage policies in place for their employees, and 77% of leaders feel confident in these policies, being very familiar with AI security best practices.

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Job Opportunities in Cyber Security Statistics

  • The cybersecurity industry is facing a global shortage of skilled workers, which is making it harder for professionals to manage threats and reduce the risk of cyberattacks. Here’s how this shortage is impacting the cybersecurity workforce:
  • 66% of cybersecurity workers say their jobs are more stressful now than five years ago.
  • 81% of these workers believe the increased stress is due to more complex cyber threats.
  • By 2025, almost 50% of cybersecurity leaders are expected to change jobs, with 25% switching to completely different roles because of work-related stress. (Gartner)
  • 57% of organizations report being short-staffed, which adds even more pressure on the existing cybersecurity team.
  • Even though many companies say their cybersecurity teams are understaffed, hiring has slowed down slightly. 38% of organizations have no open cybersecurity positions, compared to 35% last year.
  • 46% of organizations have open mid-level cybersecurity roles, and 18% have open entry-level positions, compared to 50% and 21% last year.

how-businesses-spend-their-security-budgets (Reference: stationx.net)

  • The number of open cybersecurity manager positions has dropped to 51%, the lowest ever reported in the survey.
  • An ageing workforce is also a growing problem. For the first time in ten years, the largest group of respondents is aged 45-54 (34%), surpassing the 35-44 age group (30%).
  • Many cybersecurity roles remain unfilled, with 64% of organizations reporting vacancies at various levels.
  • It takes a long time to fill these positions. 37% of organizations need 3-6 months to fill entry-level roles, and 38% take the same amount of time for higher-level positions. (ISACA)
  • The biggest skill gaps are in soft skills and cloud computing, with 51% and 42% of organizations reporting difficulties in these areas.

For over half of the respondents (55%) who have trouble keeping qualified cybersecurity professionals, the reasons for leaving include:

  • Being recruited by other companies (50%)
  • Poor pay or benefits (50%)
  • Limited chances for promotion or growth (46%)
  • High stress levels at work (46%)

Conclusion

Cyberattacks are also getting more complicated, with ransomware groups using clever tactics and focusing on industries that are more vulnerable and offer higher ransom amounts. This shift toward more targeted and financially driven attacks makes it urgent for businesses to improve their security and take preventive measures. The Cybersecurity Statistics show that no industry is safe from cybercrime, and global losses from cybercrime are expected to keep rising.

The United States is still the hardest hit by data breaches, highlighting the need for more investment in cybersecurity. To combat these threats, many companies are turning to artificial intelligence to improve threat detection and automate security, which can help them defend better against cyberattacks.

FAQ.

What is the future of cybersecurity statistics?

By 2030, these technologies are expected to be fully part of security systems, giving them powerful tools to spot, respond to, and predict threats. AI systems will get better at detecting complicated attacks by using different techniques.

Is cybersecurity a dead field?

Currently, there is a strong need for skilled cybersecurity workers. By 2025, it’s predicted that 3.5 million cybersecurity jobs will remain open due to a shortage of qualified professionals and the increasing need to secure more systems.

Barry Elad
Barry Elad

Barry Elad is a tech enthusiast passionate about exploring various technology topics. He collects key statistics and facts to make tech easier to understand. Barry focuses on software and its benefits for everyday life. In his free time, he enjoys creating healthy recipes, practicing yoga, meditating, and walking in nature with his child. Barry's mission is to simplify complex tech information for everyone.

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