2019 may be a record year for enterprise breaches, but secure collaboration tools could help

Despite business executives agreeing that cybersecurity is a major challenge, businesses globally are severely unprepared for cyberattacks.

44% of business executives from Europe and the United States said they shared sensitive information over email, yet 35% admitted they are unaware of the ways in which their organization is protecting its sensitive information, communications and data, according to the results of the annual Communication and Security survey released by Wire.

Despite 2018 being a record year for data breaches, Wire’s survey shows that many business leaders (almost 10%) are still unaware of the financial consequences of data theft and non-compliance.

These trends are alarming given that 80% of organizations have faced an email-based cyber-attack in the past year, with investors losing £42 billion from hacking attacks on UK businesses since 2013.

All major cybersecurity firms anticipate a big ramp up in AI-based cyber-attacks in 2019, meaning that 2019 may be a record year for enterprise data breaches if boards continue to act recklessly with sensitive information.

Fortunately, the popularity of secure collaboration tools within businesses is growing with 92% of respondents to Wire’s survey agreeing that collaboration tools are the best communication solutions to offer employees for work communication.

As Generation Z (post Millennials) enter the workforce in greater numbers, most believe they will lead the charge in changing habits. Wire’s survey found that 76% of execs predicted that they will use another form of communication rather than email to communicate at work once the next generation of workers trickle into the workplace.

This fits with industry trends which suggest that 44% of young workers consider their organization’s communications methods outdated, with 43% demotivated by poor communication.

In a world where cyberattacks are sadly the norm, businesses must adapt by implementing robust and secure collaboration tools that empower rather than endanger their workforces. Luckily the appetite is there with:

• 81% of respondents wanting their organization to be more proactive in the ways it protects its sensitive information, communication, and/or data
• 83% of respondents saying it would be useful to be able to extend a company’s secure communication infrastructure to business partners and customers
• And 79% believing that security and compliance are key parameters when selecting cloud business solutions

Commenting on the survey findings, Wire’s CEO, Morten Brøgger, said: “Despite a growing awareness of cyber threats, many organizations still fall behind in understanding the risks and ways to avoid them. With the volume of sensitive data that that now crosses our networks increasing and with our workforces changing, businesses need secure and flexible collaboration tools that will help them address the challenges of the modern world. By following a approach which better takes advantage of secure IM platforms, businesses will be better guarded against sophisticated, targeted attacks, veering away from an inefficient, reactionary seek-and-destroy approach to an embedded culture of front-line engagement and protection.”