Hornetsecurity Earns Frost & Sullivan’s 2024 EMEA Company of the Year Award for Pioneering Cloud-Based Email Security

Hornetsecurity Earns Frost & Sullivan’s 2024 EMEA Company of the Year Award for Pioneering Cloud-Based Email Security

Hornetsecurity’s comprehensive cloud-based solutions protect email communications, secure data, and ensure business continuity, driving innovation and customer satisfaction

Pittsburgh, PA (July 1 2024) Frost & Sullivan has announced that it recognizes Hornetsecurity with the 2024 EMEA Company of the Year Award, based on its recent analysis of the email security industry. Hornetsecurity is a leading provider of cloud-based email security solutions, offering advanced protection, effective compliance, and superior backup services for enterprises across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, as well as worldwide.

Frost & Sullivan Award 2024

Frost & Sullivan found that Hornetsecurity excels in email security by providing a highly differentiated suite of solutions tailored for Microsoft 365 customers. The company’s innovative platform offers disruptive email live tracking and threat live tracking capabilities, delivering administrators and end users unprecedented visibility into their security posture. Additionally, Hornetsecurity’s service includes sophisticated malicious document decryption and Ex Post Deletion features, ensuring robust protection against emerging threats.

Moreover, Hornetsecurity’s platform seamlessly integrates state-of-the-art technology and extensive industry expertise, offering users exceptional security and compliance. Its remarkable focus on continuous innovation has led to the development of cutting-edge solutions that address the ever-evolving needs of its customers, helping the company solidify its leadership position in the email security industry. Its multitenant Control Panel provides users with the ease and convenience of switching from one service to another from one central console.

Winning focus on megatrends, customer concerns and innovation

“Hornetsecurity has a proven focus on megatrends, customer concerns, and keeping its products up to date on the latest emerging threats by quickly adding enhanced protection capabilities to its security suite. Hornetsecurity released several key launches within the past three years that have contributed to its continuing growth and leadership in the email security market,” said Sarah Pavlak, Industry Principal at Frost & Sullivan.

Daniel Hofmann, Hornetsecurity CEO, said, “We are thrilled to be selected to win this prestigious award by Frost & Sullivan. This accolade recognizes the drive and hard work invested by our entire team into building products that continually keep our customers secure against current and emerging cybersecurity threats. Our goal is to provide the most comprehensive suite of security, compliance, awareness and backup solutions for our users, with a particular focus on Microsoft 365, all delivered via one convenient central platform. This award shows we are on the right track as we anticipate and deliver what the market needs.”

The company invests heavily in research and development, operates its own in-house security lab, and continuously enhances its product offerings through internal development as well as through strategic acquisitions. The recent purchase of Vade, a France-based email security solution provider, further demonstrates Hornetsecurity’s commitment to expanding its industry presence and delivering comprehensive security solutions to its customers.

Frost & Sullivan observed that, with the acquisition of Vade, Hornetsecurity has significantly strengthened its management team. This includes Vade CEO Georges Lotigier, now serving as a member of Hornetsecurity’s supervisory board, and Adrien Gendre, now CPO at Hornetsecurity. This acquisition enhances the company’s capabilities and broadens its reach, underscoring its commitment to delivering top-notch security solutions and maintaining its leadership position in the email security industry.

“Hornetsecurity’s executive leadership team has strong credentials from various sectors of the security industry. With the top executives each having over 20 years of experience within global IT and cloud security environments, this brings a unique breadth of experience to the company. This will continue to lead to success as customers recognize the knowledge this type of experience complements.” noted Pavlak.

About Frost & Sullivan’s Company of the Year award

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents a Company of the Year award to the organization that demonstrates excellence in terms of growth strategy and implementation in its field. The award recognizes a high degree of innovation with products and technologies, and the resulting leadership in terms of customer value and market penetration.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies in various regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analyses, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.

Click here for the full Frost & Sullivan report.

About Frost & Sullivan

For six decades, Frost & Sullivan has been world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders, and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models, and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success.

Contact:

Ashley Shreve at Ashley.weinkauf@frost.com

About Hornetsecurity

Hornetsecurity is a leading global provider of next-generation cloud-based security, compliance, backup, and security awareness solutions that help companies and organizations of all sizes around the world. Its flagship product, 365 Total Protection, is the most comprehensive cloud security solution for Microsoft 365 on the market. Driven by innovation and cybersecurity excellence, Hornetsecurity is building a safer digital future and sustainable security cultures with its award-winning portfolio. Hornetsecurity operates in more than 120 countries through its international distribution network of 12,000+ channel partners and MSPs. Its premium services are used by more than 75,000 customers. For more information, visit www.hornetsecurity.com

Media enquiries

Please contact us at press@hornetsecurity.com
Urgent training gap exposed: a quarter of organisations unprepared for cyber-attacks

Urgent training gap exposed: a quarter of organisations unprepared for cyber-attacks

  • New research from Hornetsecurity reveals 26% of organisations don’t provide IT security training to end-users.
  • This comes as one in four respondents had suffered a cybersecurity breach – 23% of which had occurred in the last year.
  • Nearly four in ten (39%) reported that their training does not adequately cover recent or AI-powered cyber threats.

Pittsburgh, PA (June 4 2024) – A new survey by cybersecurity provider Hornetsecurity has uncovered significant gaps in IT security training, with a quarter (26%) of organisations still providing no form of training to their end-users.

Company Security Awareness Survey

The survey, which compiled feedback from industry professionals around the world, also reveals that fewer than 1 in 13 (8%) of organisations offer adaptive training that evolves based on the results of regular security tests. In a rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape, where malicious threat actors are constantly devising new ways to infiltrate and harm, this is a significant business concern.

Engagement and Effectiveness in Training

People represent the frontline of every company’s cybersecurity strategy. The most popular type of cyber-attack is phishing, which preys on a person’s trust. Employees must therefore be equipped with the skills, understanding and confidence to spot malicious behaviours. Sadly, Hornetsecurity’s survey revealed that not only is there a significant gap in training, but training initiatives are seen to be ineffective. Nearly a third (31%) of respondents reported that their training was unengaging or only slightly engaging.

Despite the low engagement levels, 79% of organisations believe their IT security awareness training to be at least moderately effective in combating cyber threats. However, nearly four in ten (39%) reported that the training does not cover recent or AI-powered cyber threats adequately. In a world where AI is expediting and increasing the scale of attacks, this is alarming.

Daniel Blank, COO of Hornetsecurity, says, “Our latest research shows a clear disconnect between the perceived effectiveness of security training and its actual relevance and responsiveness to modern cyber threats, especially the recent boom in AI-driven attacks. Employees must be equipped with ongoing training to bolster any technical defences and serve as a human firewall. The ongoing aspect is essential for the training to have the most impact. It’s important to invest in the latest cybersecurity technology, but a sustainable security culture means investing in people as well.”

Post-incident adaptations and reporting gaps

The survey found that one in four organisations had suffered a cybersecurity breach or incident – 23% of which had occurred in the last year. Notably, 94% of these organisations took steps to strengthen their security by implementing additional controls post-incident. Yet, despite these efforts, 52% of respondents noted that end-users often ignore or delete identified email threats without reporting them, and 38% forget the training content, showing the need for ongoing and engaging training enhancements.

Company Security Awareness Survey

The survey highlighted that people are particularly interested in more effective post-training resources, which could help in retaining and applying the learned security measures. Another area for improvement is feedback on reported threats, with 28% stating the lack of feedback as a reason for not adhering to training protocols.

The need for updated training

A significant 45% of decision-makers in IT believe their current training programmes are outdated and ineffective against AI-powered attacks. This sentiment is echoed by 39% of general respondents, showing a critical need for training content that is both current and comprehensive.

Company Security Awareness Survey

Daniel Blank adds, “It’s imperative that organisations not only provide regular, engaging, and adaptive training but also ensure that these programmes thoroughly address the latest and most sophisticated cyber threats. This is why we developed Hornetsecurity Security Awareness Service, a next-gen solution that delivers the right amount of training customised per employee in an automated way. That way, organisations can provide the right level of ongoing training without draining IT resources to set this up and deliver it.”

He stressed: “Proactivity is key: instead of strengthening after incidents, organisations should pre-empt attacks and have robust systems and processes in place. Doing so saves significant time, effort and cost.”

Cyber insurance and preventative measures

Over half of the surveyed organisations (56%) now use cyber-insurance, indicating a growing reliance on financial safeguards against cyber incidents. Additionally, 79% of organisations attribute the prevention of cybersecurity incidents directly to their IT security training programmes, while 92% acknowledge that the training has enabled end-users to spot security threats across various media, not just email.

Notes to Editor:

The study, Company IT Security Awareness, was conducted by Hornetsecurity in April 2024 and had more than 150 respondents.

About Hornetsecurity

Hornetsecurity is a leading global provider of next-generation cloud-based security, compliance, backup, and security awareness solutions that help companies and organisations of all sizes around the world. Its flagship product, 365 Total Protection, is the most comprehensive cloud security solution for Microsoft 365 on the market. Driven by innovation and cybersecurity excellence, Hornetsecurity is building a safer digital future and sustainable security cultures with its award-winning portfolio. Hornetsecurity operates in more than 120 countries through its international distribution network of 12,000+ channel partners and MSPs. Its premium services are used by more than 75,000 customers.

Media enquiries

Please contact us at press@hornetsecurity.com

QUARTER OF UK BUSINESSES AREN’T USING AI TO BOLSTER CYBERSECURITY

QUARTER OF UK BUSINESSES AREN’T USING AI TO BOLSTER CYBERSECURITY

  • New survey from cybersecurity provider Hornetsecurity reveals that half (45%) of UK businesses have been victims of a cyberattack
  • 3 in 5 businesses are most concerned about AI-assisted phishing
  • 1 in 10 describe themselves as ‘not ready at all’ for a zero-day cyberattack

Pittsburgh, PA (April 10, 2024) – New research by Hornetsecurity highlights the AI cybersecurity gap affecting UK businesses: although nearly half (45%) of companies have fallen victim to cyberattacks, 26% are still not using AI to enhance their cybersecurity defences.

The survey, which gathered responses from over 500 C-suite professionals across the UK, reveals that cyber threats are an escalating concern. The increased sophistication of these attacks, largely attributed to AI facilitating the process of threat creation, has been acknowledged by 85% of respondents.

Commenting on the findings, Hornetsecurity CEO, Daniel Hofmann, said: “The results show how prevalent cyber crime is – and while 74% of businesses integrate AI into their defences with the goal of blocking threats, there’s a concerning quarter who have yet to use this technology. Businesses must recognise the potential of AI in tackling cyber threats and integrate it in their security strategies to stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated attacks.”

 

The double-edged sword of AI

The dual nature of AI in cybersecurity continues to trouble professionals across the full range of sectors: an equal 40% of respondents see AI as a mitigator and an exacerbator of cyber threats. When it comes to personal experience, the direct split was again repeated: 45% of business leaders found AI helped and a further 45% reported AI had worsened the threat landscape.

This comes as AI is increasingly used by threat actors to automate, sophisticate (and sometimes translate) malicious attacks globally – and the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) found that AI is lowering the barrier of entry to novice cyber criminals.

Phishing attacks and deep fakes

There’s a clear concern about AI-enhanced phishing attacks, with 58% identifying it as their top worry. Deepfake technology also emerges as a significant concern, with 39% of businesses worried about its potential – and growing – use in cyberattacks.

Types of AI-Enabled Attacks, UK Businesses most worried about

Despite the challenges, AI plays a crucial role in bolstering cybersecurity efforts. More than half of businesses (52%) use AI to improve threat detection, and 19% implement it for cybersecurity training. However, more than a quarter (26%) of companies are yet to adopt AI in their cybersecurity strategies, highlighting a gap in using advanced technology to detect and combat threats.

Business Aimes in the UK when using AI to bolster Cybersecurity

Investment in AI and the looming threat of zero-day attacks

There is a marked split in prioritising investment in AI for cybersecurity, with 42% placing it at the top of their agenda, contrasted by 29% who consider it a lower priority or not a priority at all. This divide underscores the varying levels of awareness and readiness among businesses to integrate AI into their cybersecurity frameworks.

Alarmingly, only 19% of businesses feel well prepared for a zero-day attack, with a mere 8% rating themselves as fully ready. There is a disparity in preparedness across industries. The IT and Communication sector displays the highest confidence level, with 38% rating their readiness as 9 or 10. This is followed by the education and banking and financial services sectors.

Meanwhile, the sectors of government and defence, sport and recreation, and several others report a startling lack of confidence in their preparedness, highlighting a critical area for improvement. Over 1 in 10 businesses are not at all ready for a zero-day attack, a total of 11%.

The future of AI in cybersecurity

Looking ahead, 74% of respondents believe that the role of AI in cybersecurity will only grow in importance over the next five years. This response indicates a future where AI’s integration into corporate cybersecurity strategies is not just an option but a necessity.

Hofmann adds: “For businesses, the message is clear: embracing AI in cybersecurity is essential. Companies should not just invest in new technologies but strengthen all technical and human defences against an ever-evolving – and frightening – threat landscape.”

Notes to Editor:

  1. The survey was conducted by Perspectus Global in March 2024 with a sample of 516 business leaders in the UK.

About Hornetsecurity

Hornetsecurity is a leading global provider of next-generation cloud-based security, compliance, backup, and security awareness solutions that help companies and organisations of all sizes around the world. Its flagship product, 365 Total Protection, is the most comprehensive cloud security solution for Microsoft 365 on the market. Driven by innovation and cybersecurity excellence, Hornetsecurity is building a safer digital future and sustainable security cultures with its award-winning portfolio. Hornetsecurity operates in more than 120 countries through its international distribution network of 12,000+ channel partners and MSPs. Its premium services are used by more than 75,000 customers.

Media enquiries

Please contact us at press@hornetsecurity.com
Vade joins Hornetsecurity Group, creating a European cybersecurity leader

Vade joins Hornetsecurity Group, creating a European cybersecurity leader

Partnership aims to position the group as the preeminent cybersecurity provider for customers and partners who value data sovereignty and best-in-class cloud, compliance and digital communications security services

 

Hanover, Germany and Hem, France (March 5, 2024) – Hornetsecurity Group (“Hornetsecurity”), a leading international cloud security and compliance SaaS provider, announced today that Vade, a French leader in email cybersecurity with more than 2.5 billion messages analyzed daily, has joined the group.

With the rapidly increasing use of cloud business solutions and collaboration tools in combination with an evolving cybersecurity environment and sophisticated cyber threats, organizations of all sizes need flexible and adaptive cloud solutions to protect themselves. Hornetsecurity has established itself as a key partner to organizations in protecting their IT infrastructure, digital communication and data with best-in-class cloud services and tailored next-gen security, compliance and backup solutions.

Vade has become known for its industry-leading, SaaS-based email security offering for Microsoft 365, with differentiated API-based email filtering technology and an exceptionally efficient email security solution for large telcos and OEMs all over the world. Hornetsecurity provides several additional services for Microsoft 365, including backup, permission management, automated security awareness training and AI recipient validation.

Through the combination of Hornetsecurity and Vade, customers and partners in all markets will now benefit from a more extensive product offering, positioning Hornetsecurity as a global reference for cloud-based cybersecurity services.

In 2024, additional products will become available. Thanks to Vade’s strong and comprehensive channel network, MSPs and Resellers will be able to present attractive product combinations to the French market, including the comprehensive 365 Total Protection service that covers a broad range of an organization’s Microsoft 365 security, compliance management and data protection needs.

 

Daniel Hofmann

Daniel Hofmann

Georges Lotigier

Georges Lotigier

Daniel Hofmann, Chief Executive Officer of Hornetsecurity, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Vade to Hornetsecurity. This transaction is an important milestone in our journey to build the strongest global provider of Microsoft 365 security services.”

Daniel Blank, Chief Operating Officer of Hornetsecurity, added: “Both Hornetsecurity and Vade embrace the same values and share a genuine commitment to safeguarding global organizations, enabling them to concentrate on their core strengths. We also both adopt a channel-first approach. We look forward to working with the Vade team in this exciting new chapter.”

Georges Lotigier, Chief Executive Officer of Vade, said: “Since its inception, Vade has remained dedicated to introducing innovative approaches to combat cybersecurity threats. By joining Hornetsecurity, we will pursue and accelerate this commitment by helping to deliver a wider array of top-tier solutions to the ever-expanding cybersecurity market in Europe and worldwide. This union is the natural next step for Vade as we align ourselves with a like-minded European partner who shares our vision and culture.”

Vade’s leadership team has assumed different management positions at Hornetsecurity, and Georges Lotigier has become a member of the Hornetsecurity supervisory board.

This transaction with Vade is in line with Hornetsecurity’s strategy of product build-up and international expansion. Backed by PSG Equity, TA Associates and Verdane, three leading software and specialist growth investment firms, Hornetsecurity aims to establish itself as a leading international cloud security and compliance software champion.

The transaction has closed and financial terms were not disclosed.

Vade joins Hornetsecurity

About Hornetsecurity

Hornetsecurity is a leading global provider of next-generation cloud-based security, compliance, backup, and security awareness solutions that help companies and organizations of all sizes around the world. Its flagship product, 365 Total Protection, is the most comprehensive cloud security solution for Microsoft 365 on the market. Driven by innovation and cybersecurity excellence, Hornetsecurity is building a safer digital future and sustainable security cultures with its award-winning portfolio. Hornetsecurity operates in more than 30 countries through its international distribution network of 8,000+ channel partners and MSPs. Its premium services are used by more than 50,000 customers.

About Vade

Vade is a global cybersecurity company that secures human collaboration with a combination of AI and human-powered detection and response. Vade’s products and solutions protect consumers, businesses, and organizations from email-borne cyberattacks, including malware/ransomware, spear phishing/business email compromise, and phishing. Vade is a fast-growing, channel-first company with a growing network of MSP and MSSP partners, as well as distribution agreements with leading distributors and aggregators in North America, EMEA, and Asia. Founded in 2009, Vade serves the ISP, SMB, and MSP markets with award-winning products and solutions that help increase cybersecurity and maximize IT efficiency. Key investors include Tikehau Capital, a leader in European cybersecurity investments; Auriga Partners, an ongoing cooperator with the French Tech Sovereignty Fund; and CyberK, who are excited to become minority shareholders in the Hornetsecurity Group.

Media Enquiries

Hornetsecurity:

Please contact us at press@hornetsecurity.com.

 

Vade:

Please contact us at  press@vadesecure.com.

USE OF MALICIOUS WEB LINKS IN EMAILS HAS RISEN BY 144% IN 2023 – NEW HORNETSECURITY REPORT

USE OF MALICIOUS WEB LINKS IN EMAILS HAS RISEN BY 144% IN 2023 – NEW HORNETSECURITY REPORT

  • Hornetsecurity’s Cyber Security Report 2024 reveals phishing remains top email threat, accounting for 43.3% of attacks, but malicious URLs jumped from 12.5% to 30.5% YoY
  • Analysis of more 45 billion emails reveals more than a third (36.4%) are unwanted

Pittsburgh, PA (28 November 2023) – Hornetsecurity has today launched its Cyber Security Report 2024, which reveals the growing threat of cybercriminals using harmful web links in emails. An analysis of 45 billion emails found a 144% increase in this type of attack compared to last year, rising from 12.5% of all threats in 2022 to 30.5% this year.

It is phishing, however, that remains the most common email attack technique. Its use increased by nearly 4 percentage points this year, rising from 39.6% to 43.3% of all email attacks.

Commenting on the latest report findings, Daniel Hofmann, Hornetsecurity CEO, said: “Email continues to be one of the key methods of attack that threat actors use – and it’s essential that firms of all sizes, and across all sectors, put in place a robust email security strategy to future-proof their business. The boom in malicious web links and steady rise in phishing demonstrates that organizations cannot underestimate the damage such threats can cause, and must ensure they use next gen security service while also maintaining security awareness throughout the workplace.”

Changing face of threats

Of the 45 billion emails analysed, more than a third (36.4%) were categorised as unwanted. Within this category, just over 3.6% – or more than 585 million – were identified as malicious. This represents the widespread nature of the risk, with a vast number of emails posing potential threats.

Most-used file types in malicious emails

Threat actors are savvy and adaptable. In the last year, following Microsoft disabling macros by default in Office, there was a significant decline in the use of DOCX files (by 9.5 percentage points) and XLSX files (by 6.7 percentage points). Instead, cyber-criminals opted for HTML files (37.1% of files analysed), PDFs (23.3%) and Archive files (20.8%). HTML file usage is a particularly notable trend: usage rose by 76.6% over the last year.

Brand impersonation continues to target victims, soliciting sensitive information via phishing. Shipping and e-commerce emails are to be regarded with particular caution: DHL accounts for 26.1% of all impersonations, Amazon 7.7% and Fedex 2.3%. All three were in the top 10 most spoofed. Other popular brands, including LinkedIn, Microsoft (both 2.4%), and Netflix (2.2%), also featured in the top 10.

Industries at risk

This latest Hornetsecurity research confirms that almost every type of business is currently under threat. If an organisation can pay a ransom, it is a target to cyber criminals. However, some industries are at a slightly increased risk.

The research industry is often targeted due to the intellectual property it handles. Entertainment companies are attacked due to the money they handle, such as the 2023 attacks on MGM and Caesars Casinos. Meanwhile, the manufacturing sector is often seen as an easy target for cyber attackers because companies tend to use many IoT devices that can render them vulnerable if not properly secured.

Hofmann added: “Many organisations are too reactive, only responding to specific threats or acting after they have fallen victim. This approach leaves them vulnerable to attack. Businesses need a zero-trust mindset to protect themselves and should adopt all-encompassing security services to set their minds at rest. Our research highlights the adaptability of cybercriminals, and the rapid shifts that have taken place in the last year.

“Companies have a duty to take care of basic security hygiene, train and support all employees, and invest in quality security.”

Cyber Security Report 2024

To read the full Cyber Security Report, including its predictions for 2024, please visit: https://www.hornetsecurity.com/us/cyber-security-report/

For a panel discussion about the findings of this report, please visit: https://www.hornetsecurity.com/en/webinar-decoding-the-cyber-security-report/

Notes to Editor:

  1. The study was conducted by Hornetsecurity’s Security Lab, which reviewed more than 45 billion emails that were processed through Hornetsecurity’s security services, during the reporting period (1 November 2022 – 1 November 2023).
  2. For further information and resources, please see Chapter 5 in the full report: https://www.hornetsecurity.com/us/cyber-security-report/

About Hornetsecurity

Hornetsecurity is a leading global provider of next-generation cloud-based security, compliance, backup, and security awareness solutions that help companies and organisations of all sizes around the world. Its flagship product, 365 Total Protection, is the most comprehensive cloud security solution for Microsoft 365 on the market. Driven by innovation and cybersecurity excellence, Hornetsecurity is building a safer digital future and sustainable security cultures with its award-winning portfolio. Hornetsecurity operates in more than 30 countries through its international distribution network of 8,000+ channel partners and MSPs. Its premium services are used by more than 50,000 customers.

Media enquiries

Please contact us at press@hornetsecurity.com

ALMOST 60% OF BUSINESSES ARE ‘VERY’ TO ‘EXTREMELY’ CONCERNED ABOUT RANSOMWARE ATTACKS – HORNETSECURITY ANNUAL RANSOMWARE SURVEY

ALMOST 60% OF BUSINESSES ARE ‘VERY’ TO ‘EXTREMELY’ CONCERNED ABOUT RANSOMWARE ATTACKS – HORNETSECURITY ANNUAL RANSOMWARE SURVEY

  • More than half of leadership teams are ‘actively involved’ in decision-making on preventing attacks
  • One in five respondents said their company suffered an attack in 2023

Nuremberg, Germany (10 October 2023) – Nearly 60% of companies are ‘very’ to ‘extremely’ concerned about ransomware attacks, according to latest research from leading cybersecurity provider Hornetsecurity. The company released the survey results at IT-SA 2023, Europe’s largest IT security trade show, where it is exhibiting.

In its annual Ransomware Survey, Hornetsecurity revealed that more than nine in ten (92.5%) businesses are aware of ransomware’s potential for negative impact, but just 54% of respondents said their leadership is ‘actively involved in conversations and decision-making’ around preventing such attacks. Four in ten (39.7%) said they were happy to ‘leave it to IT to deal with the issue’.

Over 90 percents of businesses are award or ransomwares danger

Commenting on the findings, Hornetsecurity CEO Daniel Hofmann, said: “Our annual Ransomware Survey is a timely reminder that ransomware protection is key to ongoing success. Organizations cannot afford to become victims – ongoing security awareness training and multi-layered ransomware protection is critical to ensure there are no insurmountable losses.”

Ransomware protection is a necessity

Reassuringly, 93.2% of respondents rank ransomware protection as ‘very’ to ‘extremely’ important in terms of IT priorities for their organization, and 87.8% of respondents confirmed they have a disaster recovery plan in place for a ransomware attack.

However, that leaves more than one in eight organizations (12.2%) without a disaster recovery plan. Of those companies, more than half cited a ‘lack of resources or time’ as the primary reason. Additionally, one-third of respondents said a disaster recovery plan is ‘not considered a priority by management’.

Over 90 percents of respondents sees ransomware protection as very to extremely important

Comparing Ransomware Survey results in 2021-2023

This survey has been conducted annually over the past three years and has included asking respondents if their organization has fallen victim to a ransomware attack.

Since 2021, Hornetsecurity has found relatively small changes in the percentage of respondents saying their organizations have fallen victim to a ransomware attack: 21.1% in 2021, 23.9% in 2022, but a new low of 19.7% in 2023.

Additionally, companies that reported paying a ransom are down from 9.1% in 2021 to 6.9% in 2023.

Some of the data in this survey show positive results, with a majority of respondents reporting they understand the importance of protection, and a drop in ransomware attack victims in 2023, showing companies are becoming more vigilant in their data protection.

Ransomware attacks continue to evolve, though, so organizations must maintain this vigilance. In 2023, 81% of respondents reported they are receiving end-user training in comparison to 2021, when only 71.2% reported they had received training.

“Although organizations have reported fewer ransomware attacks in 2023, the threats haven’t necessarily decreased,“ Hofmann said. “Cybersecurity awareness among all users remains a crucial element to further decrease the risk of falling for these threats, especially as attacks become more sophisticated with new technologies.”

Security tools to combat ransomware attacks

The survey also revealed the most used tools to combat potential threats:

  • 87.8% used to end-point detection software with anti-ransomware capabilities
  • 84.4% cited ‘email filtration and threat analysis’
  • 22.4% mentioned ‘AI-enabled security solutions’ as a tool they are now using to combat ransomware within their organization.

The most common primary security feature to protect backups from ransomware is:

  • Immutable storage (40.6% of respondents)
  • Tight control of user and application permissions (38.3%)
  • Air-gapped storage (27.8%).

Given the unpredictable nature of ransomware attacks, 76.2% of respondents said their business has changed the way it backs up its data. The 73.6% of respondents who have a recovery plan in place for their Microsoft 365 data are ‘very’ to ‘extremely’ confident in their chosen solution, while 55.1% of respondents are ‘very’ to ‘extremely’ confident that their data backups would be safe from a ransomware attack today.

About the survey

Hornetsecurity’s Annual Ransomware Survey 2023 was answered by more than 150 business decision-makers (including IT pros) across small to large enterprises. This year’s annual survey had 46.9% of respondents based in Europe, 30.6% in North America, with the other 21.5% from Asia, Australia, Africa, the Middle East and South America.

Find out more about Hornetsecurity’s latest ransomware survey.

About Hornetsecurity

Hornetsecurity is a leading global provider of next-generation cloud-based security, compliance, backup, and security awareness solutions that help companies and organizations of all sizes around the world. Its flagship product, 365 Total Protection, is the most comprehensive cloud security solution for Microsoft 365 on the market. Driven by innovation and cybersecurity excellence, Hornetsecurity is building a safer digital future and sustainable security cultures with its award-winning portfolio. Hornetsecurity operates in more than 30 countries through its international distribution network of 8,000+ channel partners and MSPs. Its premium services are used by more than 50,000 customers.

Media enquiries

Please contact us at press@hornetsecurity.com.