Symantec records drop in cyber attacks on firms

And losses caused by such attacks are dropping too

Businesses are getting better at tackling cyber threats, according to a new report from IT security firm Symantec, which notes that the number of attacks on firms dropped over the past year.

Seven out of 10 firms were hit by cyber attacks in the past 12 months, according to Symantec’s 2011 State of Security report. That is down from 75 per cent of firms the previous year.

Similarly, the number of firms reporting losses resulting from cyber attacks fell from 100 per cent in 2010 to 92 per cent in the past year.

The growth in cyber attacks is also slowing, according to the report. In 2010, 29 per cent of firms said the number of attacks was increasing; this year that number had dropped to 21 per cent.

Nevertheless, security professionals continue to be challenged as cyber crooks adapt their tactics.

“There’s no question that attackers are using more insidious, sophisticated and silent methods to steal data and wreak havoc,” said Sean Doherty, chief technology officer of enterprise security at Symantec.

Mobile computing, social media and the consumerisation of IT were making it more difficult to secure enterprise data according to nearly half of the survey respondents.

The Symantec report is based on feedback from 3,300 firms across the globe.