Three-Quarters of Organizations Have Experienced an Increase in Email-Based Threats

New data on the state of email security shows that nearly every organization has been the target of a phishing attack as attacks increase in sophistication.

While organizations are attempting to shore up their cybersecurity defenses, Mimecast’s State of Email Security report shows that attacks continue to improve, continue to succeed, and continue to do harm.

According to the report:

  • 97% of organizations have been the target of a phishing attack
  • 67% have been harmed by a ransomware attack
  • 59% of orgs feel cyberattacks are growing increasingly sophisticated

On top of this, 8 out of 10 companies feel like their email usage continues to rise, making it easier for malicious emails to blend in with the legitimate.

What’s interesting is that, according to the report, 99% of organizations provide some form of cyber awareness training to their workforce – and yet, we’re still seeing successful attacks.

If you fall into that 99% (and it’s obviously likely you do), I do want to encourage you to assess the frequency and method of training used. If you’re doing quarterly break room meetings, believe me – they’re completely ineffective. It’s only through continual online Security Awareness Training complimented with phishing testing that you can truly know that your employees are learning and getting better at spotting malicious emails before they make the mistake and interact with them.

Stu Sjouwerman
About the Author
Stu Sjouwerman (pronounced “shower-man”) is the founder and CEO of KnowBe4 Inc, a provider of the most popular Security Awareness Training and Simulated Phishing platform. A serial entrepreneur and data security expert with more than 30 years in the IT industry, Sjouwerman is the author of four books, with his latest being “Cyberheist: The Biggest Financial Threat Facing American Businesses.” Along with his CEO duties, Stu is Editor-in-Chief of Cyberheist News, an e-zine tailored to deliver IT security news, technical updates, and social engineering alerts. Stu is a four-time Inc 500 award winner and EY Entrepreneur of the Year finalist.