Information Technology, Education, and Research are the leading sectors most prone to cyber-attacks this year.
This is according to the recently released 2024 Digital Defense Report by Microsoft which highlights an alarming rise in attacks across the globe.
The report reveals that the number of global cyber-attacks has doubled to 600 million per day, which indicates the growing collaboration between nation-state actors and cybercriminals.
According to a statement by Microsoft, Data breaches have also been rampant, with TechCrunch reporting over 1 billion stolen records in 2024 alone.
These breaches, the tech company added, have not only compromised personal information but have also
emboldened criminals who profit from cyberattacks.
“In 2024, Education and Research became the second most targeted sector by nation-state threat actors,” the report reads in part.
“In addition to offering intelligence such as research and policy discussions, education and research institutions are often used as testing grounds by threat actors before they pursue their actual targets.”
According to the report, other sectors most prone to attacks include Think Tanks and NGOs, Transportation, Consumer Retail, Finance, Manufacturing, and Communications.
In Africa, the African Cyber Threat Assessment Report 2024 by Interpol highlights the rapid growth of cybercrime, with estimates showing that in 2023, there was a 23% year-on-year increase in the average number of weekly cyberattacks per organisation in Africa, the highest average in the world.
Recent cyber threats, Microsoft added, have markedly increased in sophistication and frequency, posing
significant challenges to cybersecurity defences worldwide.
“A notable trend is the surge in mobile, Internet of Things (IoT), and operational technology (OT) cyberattacks, which underscores the expanding threat landscape beyond traditional computing environments,” the tech company said.
The Digital Defence Report recommends that as the threats evolve, so must the strategies to combat them.
This will require a concerted effort from individuals, organisations and governments alike.
“The cyber threat landscape has continued to become more dangerous and complex. The
malign actors of the world are becoming better resourced and better prepared, with increasingly
sophisticated tactics, techniques, and tools that challenge even the world’s best cybersecurity
Defenders,” the report reads.
It further observes that cybercriminals are increasingly utilising AI to launch more sophisticated attacks, bypass traditional defences, and automate their malicious activities.
This escalation, Microsoft noted, necessitates a continuous evolution of our security strategies to stay ahead of these AI-generated threats.
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