Ransomware attacks increased 13% in the past 12 months, according to the Verizon Business 2022 Data Breach Investigations Report (2022 DBIR).
About 80% of the attacks came from organized crime, the report said. Additionally, heightened worldwide tensions, such as that between Russia and other countries, are driving increased sophistication, visibility and awareness around nation-state affiliated cyberattacks.
One quarter of breaches in 2022 were the result of social engineering attacks, according to Verizon. Those attacks, in combination with human errors and misuse of privilege, accounted for 82% of analyzed breaches over the past year.
Another growing issue was attacks coming through systems of supply chain partners, with 62% of system intrusion incidents coming through an organization’s partner.
“Compromising the right partner is a force multiplier for cybercriminals, and highlights the difficulties that many organizations face in securing their supply chain,” Verizon said.
“Over the past few years, the pandemic has exposed a number of critical issues that businesses have been forced to navigate in real-time. But nowhere is the need to adapt more compelling than in the world of cybersecurity,” said Hans Vestberg, Verizon CEO and chairman, in a prepared statement about the ransomware attacks increase. “As we continue to accelerate toward an increasingly digitized world, effective technological solutions, strong security frameworks, and an increased focus on education will all play their part in ensuring that businesses remain secure, and customers protected.”
McAfee had earlier reported that ransomware-as-a-service has become a growing threat.
