Security News > 2022 > February > Ransomware attacks, and ransom payments, are rampant among critical infrastructure organizations

80% of critical infrastructure organizations experienced a ransomware attack in the last year, with an equal number reporting that their security budgets have risen since 2020, a Claroty report reveals.

The report is based on an independent global survey of 1,100 information technology and operational technology professionals who work in critical infrastructure sectors, exploring how they have dealt with the significant challenges in 2021, their levels of resiliency, and priorities moving forward.

Of the 80% of respondents who experienced a ransomware attack, 47% reported an impact to their industrial control system environment and over 60% paid the ransom, more than half of which cost $500,000 or more.

The report also found that the combination of the ever-accelerating digital transformation and limited availability of skilled cybersecurity workers has resulted in several high-profile attacks on critical infrastructure.

Gaps in processes and technology remain: While more than 65% rate their organization's vulnerability management strategy as moderately to highly proactive, ransomware attacks are still highly successful.

"Our research shows that critical infrastructure security is at a pivotal juncture, where threats are proliferating and evolving, but there's also a growing collective interest and desire in protecting our most essential systems," said Yaniv Vardi, CEO of Claroty.

News URL

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2022/02/10/critical-infrastructure-ransomware/