KnowBe4 report finds that the region's
healthcare sectors struggle to defend themselves against cyber
attacks due to lack of preparedness
LONDON, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- KnowBe4, the
provider of the world's largest security awareness training and
simulated phishing platform, today released a new report showing
the increasing impact cyber crime has on Irish and UK healthcare
sectors entitled "Rising Threat Of Malware Attacks In Ireland And United Kingdom Healthcare
Sectors".
KnowBe4's report details the rise of malicious attacks,
financial costs, recovery efforts and other detrimental impacts
cyber attacks have on Irish and UK healthcare sectors. The report
outlines contributing aspects to these attacks including the cost
of one wrong click, the region-wide weakness, rising cyber attacks
in the recent year, emerging threats from state-aligned groups and
the importance of strengthening the human firewall. Additionally,
the report reveals the effectiveness of KnowBe4's security
awareness training based on the improved
Phish-prone™ Percentages (PPP) of Irish and UK
organisations before and after training.
Key findings include:
- UK organisations collectively experienced a surge in cyber
attacks in 2022, with a 77% increase over 2021. Healthcare was the
third most frequently targeted sector, with an increase of
74%.
- The impact of breaches is proving to be more far-reaching in
terms of cost and time than previously thought. Organisations could
be paying off the debt of a breach for many years to come.
Therefore, stopping attacks becomes an even greater priority.
- Although some organisations may have a poor starting point,
changing the overall security culture and investing in a solid
security awareness training strategy can provide a rapid return on
investment and significantly reduce risk.
- A survey of 100 cybersecurity managers in the UK health sector
found that 81% of healthcare organisations in the UK had been hit
by ransomware in the previous year. 38% of the healthcare
organisations attacked paid a ransom demand to get their files
back. 44% refused to pay a demand and lost their healthcare data as
a result. Close to two-thirds (64%) of respondents admitted their
organisation has had to cancel in-person appointments because of a
cyber attack.
- Ransomware continues to be a menace, with the geopolitical
climate creating an increasingly tricky situation for organisations
to stay ahead of.
"Healthcare sector cyber attacks are more than just the average,
typical attack," said Stu
Sjouwerman, CEO, KnowBe4. "These attacks have the potential
to be life-threatening, especially when the outcome paralyses
hospital systems resulting in cancelled surgeries, cancer
treatments, emergency care and more. It is crucial that healthcare
sectors in Ireland and the
United Kingdom prioritise
educating their employees on the social engineering threats that
are currently rising in the region. Regular training results in
better preparedness to combat cyber attacks and contributes to an
overall stronger security culture, which is especially essential
for organisations that are responsible for protecting extremely
personal and private information."
To download the report, visit
https://www.knowbe4.com/hubfs/UK-Ireland-Report_EN-US.pdf.
About KnowBe4
KnowBe4, the provider of the world's
largest security awareness training and simulated phishing
platform, is used by more than 60,000 organisations around the
globe. Founded by IT and data security specialist Stu Sjouwerman, KnowBe4 helps organisations
address the human element of security by raising awareness about
ransomware, CEO fraud and other social engineering tactics through
a new-school approach to awareness training on security. Tens of
thousands of organisations rely on KnowBe4 to mobilise their end
users as their last line of defence.
Media Contact
Amanda Tarantino
Public Relations Officer
KnowBe4
amandat@knowbe4.com
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