London, November 25 2024 – A new report by cybersecurity firm Horizon3.ai has revealed alarming statistics about the state of cyber security in UK organisations. The “Cyber Security Report UK 2024/25” found that 70 percent of companies have been targeted by hackers at least once in the past two years, with nearly half experiencing multiple cyberattacks.
The report, which surveyed 100 UK-based companies, also uncovered a concerning lack of awareness among organisations when it comes to cyberattacks. 23 percent of companies were unsure if they had been breached, while only 8 percent stated that they were certain they had not been attacked.
Keith Poyser, Vice President for EMEA at Horizon3.ai, expressed concern over the growing gap between the level of threat and the protection in place in UK organisations. “With almost 20,000 new vulnerabilities in software identified by the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) in just one year, alongside the increasing complexity of IT and network environments, many organisations have lost sight of how vulnerable they truly are and how frequently they are targeted,” he said.
The report also highlighted the impact of cyberattacks on organisations, with 62 percent experiencing downtime, 42 percent suffering financial losses, and 15 percent facing legal consequences. Data theft was also a major concern, with 35 percent of companies reporting it as a result of a cyberattack. Additionally, 54 percent of companies received a ransom demand to recover data encrypted by hackers.
Poyser emphasized the need for organisations to take action to improve their cybersecurity resilience. “The consequences can escalate exponentially, negatively impacting every part of the organisation,” he warned. He also urged key executives to understand the risks and potential personal and corporate impact of cyberattacks, as the report found that more than half of executives did not believe they could be held liable for potential damage.
In light of the growing threat, Poyser advised organisations to conduct regular penetration tests to assess their cyber resilience. Horizon3.ai offers a cloud-based platform, NodeZero, which enables organisations to simulate self-assessments of their IT infrastructure and identify security vulnerabilities. “I recommend that every board member, CEO, and IT leader across all industries subject their company to such a rigorous test,” said Poyser.
About Horizon3.ai and NodeZero: Horizon3.ai provides a cloud-based platform, NodeZero, which offers affordable, regular penetration testing for mid-sized organisations. The platform continuously monitors the cybercrime landscape and provides tailored recommendations for remediation. Through this platform, Horizon3.ai helps organisations meet rising regulatory demands for cyber resilience in Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC).
For more information, please visit Horizon3.ai or contact euromarcom public relations GmbH at +49 611 973150 or team@euromarcom.de.
Distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/
