The State of Cybersecurity
2023 Trends
Organizations turning security concerns into action
According to global leaders, last year’s top concerns are still top of mind — but forward progress is being made. The skill shortage is still present, but there’s now clarity around what it will take to fill it. While cloud security continues to be a major source of concern, organizations are actively looking for ways to improve. And while the number of breaches pace steadily upwards, proactive, comprehensive security appears to provide solutions.
Worry has now become action as organizations evaluate their weaknesses, increase budget plans, and proactively work against rising cyber threats.
The 2023 State of Cybersecurity Findings: Decision Makers Weigh In
In late 2022, Arctic Wolf conducted a worldwide survey of 700+ global IT security decision makers to understand their priorities and anticipated challenges for the year ahead. Our goal was to understand their security roadmaps for 2023, and to get a first-hand perspective on their current security objectives, potential obstacles, and what’s changed since last year.
Our 2023 survey respondents included Owners, Directors & Vice Presidents, and C-Level Executives from 7 different regions.
What We Learned
Organizations are Acting on Cloud Security Concerns
WHAT THIS MEANS:
In 2021, cloud adoption continued to rapidly outpace cloud security increasing an already major security gap. In the 12 months since, organizations have started to address these growing gaps, realizing that their current cloud security measures not enough. They need to learn more about the topic and how to implement stronger solutions to meet their business and security needs.
42% of respondents
stated that cloud security gaps were their primary area of worry
38% of respondents
believe they are effectively securing their cloud resources
46% of respondents
would like to learn more about cloud security and evolving infrastructures
"Organizations recognizing that security risks can exist within this area of their architecture is an important step in the right direction to further improve the security posture for many companies."
- - - - - - State of Cybersecurity: 2023 TrendsSecurity Decisions
Risk Management is Driving Organizations’ Security Decisions
Cloud security isn’t the only piece of the security puzzle that business leaders are worried about. The top three concerns of 2023 are all directly related to managing risk and preventing a future breach — through humans, solutions, and insurance.
% of Respondents
Risk management best-practice
Increase in cyber insurance costs/fear of losing policy
Hiring and recruiting security staff
Security Skills
It’s been known for a few years now that the security skills gap is leaving businesses unsecure and straining understaffed IT and security teams. This gap is a major threat to organizations’ security objectives, and now we know exactly how many individuals are needed to stop the gap from growing.
This is broken down into:
32% of organizations are having difficulty with hiring and retaining staff
36% of organizations feel their current staff lacks the necessary expertise needed for their goals
56% of Organizations
48% of Organizations
Reported a need of 10+ full-time staff members
"Organizations that feel that they are in a place of being fully successfully staffed within their cybersecurity teams are easily in the minority."
- - - - - - State of Cybersecurity: 2023 TrendsGrowing Budgets
Cybersecurity Budgets Are Growing to Meet Major Threats
Despite macroeconomic headwinds and global economic uncertainty, organizations are adding bucks to their budgets in order to stay secure. While it may be costly to invest in staff, solutions, and more, the proactive approach is more affordable than dealing with the fallout of a breach or making a large ransomware payment.
Data Breaches
Half of all organizations have suffered a breach
50% of organizations we spoke with admitted to suffering a breach within the last year.
(By Types of Attacks)
Ransomware
Phishing/Spear Phishing
Business Email Compromise
"We have yet to enter into a phase of cyber defence where breaches can be openly disclosed and discussed without some level of concern."
- - - - - - State of Cybersecurity: 2023 Trends
Stopping Social Engineers
Security Awareness Training on Organization’s “To-Do” List
It makes sense that since businesses are worried about social engineering, they’re looking to security awareness training to thwart the threats. Social awareness training makes sure employees understand how they can be targeted and how they can act as a line of defence against breach attempts like phishing.
40% of our respondents stated that they are actively planning to implement a security awareness program within their organization within the coming year
24% of respondents list “building a culture of security awareness” as an urgent concern driving their cybersecurity strategy
FULL REPORT AVAILABLE!
An In-Depth Exploration: 2023 Cyber Security Trends
Infographic
2023 Trends: Ransomware, Cloud Security Changes, and More
The State of Cybersecurity: 2023 Trends report pulls data and insights from over 700 IT professionals across the globe to understand where organizations are heading when it comes to cybersecurity. These concerns, obstacles, and objectives highlight that while old problems still persist, organizations are making moves to increase their security posture and tackle future threats.
Helpful Resources
Transform Your Security Awareness Training
Arctic Wolf Managed Security Awareness® prepares your employees to recognize and neutralize social engineering attacks and human error—helping to end cyber risk at your organization.