Check Point Software’s 2023 Security Report Highlights Rise in Cyberattacks and Malware

Check Point Research has published its 2023 Security Report reflecting on a chaotic year in cybersecurity. The report looks back on a tumultuous 2022, which saw cyberattacks reach an all-time high in response to the Russo-Ukrainian war. Education and Research remains the most targeted sector, but attacks on the healthcare sector registered a 74% increase year-on-year.

According to the report, cyberattacks have risen by 38% in 2022 compared to the previous year, with an average of 1,168 weekly attacks per organization being recorded. The report also highlights the role played by smaller and more agile hackers and ransomware groups in exploiting legitimate collaboration tools used in the hybrid workplace.

Among the findings, the boundaries between state-sponsored cyber operations and hacktivism have become increasingly blurred, as nation-states act with anonymity and impunity. Non-state affiliated hacktivist groups have become more organized and effective than ever before. The number of attacks on cloud-based networks per organization has skyrocketed, with a 48% rise in 2022 compared to 2021.

The report also offers insights specifically for CISOs, aimed at drawing attention to critical security actions for the coming year. These insights include reducing complexity to bridge the cyber-skills gap, limiting the cost of cloud misconfigurations, and increasing the use of automation and AI to detect network risks that may go unnoticed by the human eye.

“The increase in the volume of cyberattacks in the next twelve months is a cause for concern,” says Maya Horowitz, VP Research at Check Point Software. “The migration to the cloud has expanded the attack surface for cybercriminals, and the legitimate tools used by organizations will continue to be manipulated. The widening cyber-skills gap and the growing complexity of distributed networks make it a perfect storm for cybercriminals.”

The Security Report´s findings are based on data drawn from the Check Point ThreatCloud Cyber-Threat Map, which looks at the key tactics’ cybercriminals are using to carry out their attacks.

Channel Impact^®
A number of factors are coming together to accelerate the threat. Channel partners can take a lead role in mitigating the risks.