In 2023, Italy experienced a rise in cyber-attacks that impacted numerous companies, organizations, and individuals.
The financial sector and Public Administration were among the primary targets of cyber attacks.
SealPath is excited to announce our collaboration with Exprivia, a leader in information and communication technology, in contributing to the 2023 Annual Threat Intelligence Report for Italy prepared by the Exprivia Cybersecurity Observatory, based on an analysis of 145 open sources, including websites of affected companies, portals of national interest, online news agencies, blogs and social networks.
This collaboration between SealPath and Exprivia underscores our shared commitment to enhancing the cybersecurity readiness of organizations. By joining forces, we aim to leverage our collective expertise to empower businesses with the knowledge and tools they need to defend against, and respond to, the ever-evolving cyber threat landscape.
Key Insights of the Report
The Exprivia Annual Threat Intelligence Report 2023 offers a comprehensive analysis of the cyber threat landscape, highlighting evolving threats, and providing organizations with actionable intelligence to bolster their cybersecurity posture. According to the ICT group’s report, there were 2,209 incidents of cyber attacks, privacy violations, and other security breaches in 2023.
In particular, there were 1,635 attacks, which is a 32% increase compared to the previous year. There were also 518 security incidents, which is more than half (-59%) compared to the 2022 figures, where there were 1,236 security incidents. Additionally, there were 56 privacy violations, which is significantly lower by 46% compared to the previous year’s 103 incidents.
Here are some key insights:
Rising Cyber Threats: The report details an uptick in sophisticated cyber-attacks targeting various sectors, emphasizing the need for advanced security measures to protect sensitive information. In 2023, of the 2,209 cases recorded, data theft remained the most widespread type of attack, accounting for 59% of all cases. Phishing/social engineering emerged as the top attack type in 2023, accounting for 49% of the total number of cases (1088, down about 4% from 1133 in 2022).
Sector-Specific Risks: It notes that the financial, healthcare, and public sectors are particularly at risk, urging these industries to amp up their defense mechanisms against potential cyber threats. The sector most targeted by attackers is ” Finance “, which includes financial companies, banking institutions or cryptocurrency platforms, with a total of 969 cases and peaks of relevance during 2023, representing 44% of the total number of phenomena (a slight increase of 3% compared to up to 2022, when 939 cases were recorded).
Emerging Technologies: The adoption of emerging technologies like AI and IoT has been identified as a double-edged sword, presenting new opportunities for innovation and efficiency but also introducing novel cybersecurity challenges.
SealPath’s Contribution
Our contribution, titled “The Importance of Identifying the Organization’s Most At-Risk Information,” underlines our commitment to bolstering cybersecurity awareness and defense mechanisms for businesses across Italy and beyond.
In our article, we delved into the criticality of identifying and protecting an organization’s most vulnerable information. With the increasing sophistication of cyber threats, it is imperative for businesses to understand which data are most at risk and to implement robust protection strategies accordingly. Our piece offers practical advice on identifying these crucial data assets and deploying effective information protection solutions to secure them.
About SealPath
SealPath is the European leader in Data-Centric Security and Enterprise Digital Rights Management, working with significant companies in more than 25 countries. SealPath has been helping organizations from different business verticals such as Manufacturing, Oil and Gas, Retail, Finance, Health, and Public Administration, to protect their data for over a decade. SealPath’s client portfolio includes organizations within the Fortune 500 and Eurostoxx 50 indices. SealPath facilitates the prevention of costly mistakes, reducing the risk of data leakage, ensuring the security of confidential information, and protecting data assets.