VECTO experts have recently published the seventh edition of the VECTO Report: “Cybersecurity in Polish Companies 2024.” This annual, detailed analysis of threat awareness and IT data protection solutions employed by Polish enterprises also identifies key trends in cybersecurity. The study confirms that, in the context of the increasing scale of cyber threats, enterprises and institutions must take vigorous actions to secure IT infrastructure and develop competencies in the so-called human factor. Otherwise, they will struggle to meet all the challenges that the digital future and geopolitical tensions in our part of Europe will bring.
The VECTO Report alarms that nearly 74% of Polish companies confirm the occurrence of a cyber incident that could compromise data integrity. Over 79% of enterprises declare their readiness to pay a ransom in the event of a ransomware attack. At the same time, only 28% of companies believe that their IT infrastructure is properly secured. These are just a few of the many surprising findings from the seventh edition of the Report. VECTO experts emphasize that the greatest threats in the Polish IT landscape are phishing, ransomware, human errors, and inadequate protection of mobile devices. These were primarily responsible for numerous incidents experienced by Polish companies and institutions in 2024. Recorded and confirmed cyber events are indisputable evidence that cybercriminals today target not only large and medium corporations but also small entities and public institutions. Accumulated analyses, including statistics presented by CERT Poland, paint a pessimistic picture of the current situationâthe scale of threats is growing rapidly, and cybercriminals are increasingly using a combination of technology and manipulative practices to attack both enterprises and individual users.
Respondents of the VECTO study highlight the financial, medical, and public administration sectors as potentially most vulnerable to cyberattacks. The financial sector has long been a primary target for cybercriminals, due to the sensitive data gathered and the potentially high financial losses. Since the pandemic period, we have also observed spectacular attacks on the medical industry, both locally and globally. Public administration and units managing so-called critical infrastructure also report a significant increase in cyber incidents, which may be related to the particular geopolitical situation of our part of Europe. Especially since there is no shortage of evidence that some of these are orchestrated by international cybercriminal groups, usually inspired and funded by foreign governments. Compared to data from last year’s edition of the Report, there has been an increase in incidents in the e-commerce sector and among small enterprises and micro-companies, for which limited investment funds are often a barrier to comprehensive security and necessary IT infrastructure modernization.
“Poland is currently experiencing the forefront of cyber conflict. Cybercriminals are attacking more effectively and on a larger scale, and domestic companies and institutions, including those managing critical infrastructure, are at the center of these events. We believe that our report will provide Polish enterprises with practical tips and data that will help them more effectively identify threats, prevent incidents, and protect their IT resources. Only through investments in modern technologies, development of competencies for every user of the corporate IT network, and increasing awareness at all levels of the organization can we create real safeguards against the escalating threats we face today,” emphasizes Jakub WychowaĆski, President of the VECTO Board.
Source: Manager Plus