According to a recent report from Symantec, targeted attacks on the IT networks of small businesses have doubled in the past six months.There were on average 58 targeted attacks a day on the networks and computer systems of companies with less than 

250 employees or less in the last six months. This number represents almost 36% of all targeted attacks on companies, Symantec said. This number represents an 18%  increase since the end of December 2011.i

According to Paul Wood, Symantec’s cyber security intellengence manager, “There appears to be a direct correlation between the rise in attacks against smaller businesses and a drop in attacks against larger ones.“It almost seems attackers are diverting their resources directly from the one group to the other.”

Perhaps this is because larger companies have more resources and dedicated CISOs. As a result they do a better job of securing their computer networks.

The total number of daily attacks continued an upward path during the first half of 2012, according to Symantec, with an average of 151 targeted attacks blocked each day during May and June.

During the first half of the year, the total number of daily targeted attacks continued to increase at a minimum rate of 24 percent with an average of 151 targeted attacks being blocked each day during May and June.

Large enterprises consisting of more than 2,500 employees are still receiving the greatest number of attacks, with an average 69 being blocked each day.

It may be that your company is not the primary target, but an attacker may use your organization as a stepping-stone to attack another company. You do not want your business to be the weakest link in the supply chain. Information is power, and the attackers know this, and successful attacks can result in significant financial advantage for the cyber criminals behind them. Access to intellectual property and strategic intelligence can give them huge advantages in a competitive market,” Wood said.

 

 

Cross Posted from myITview.com