"Mobile, Cloud and Email Are Top Threat Vectors For 2023"

According to new research by PwC, tech executives consider business email compromise (BEC), ransomware, and attacks on cloud management interfaces as the threats most likely to increase from this year to the next and singled out mobile, email, and cloud as the main attack vectors for 2023. The researchers polled 3522 business, tech, and security execs to compile its 2023 Global Digital Trust Insights report. Over half of the participants hailed from companies with over $1bn in revenue, and 16% from firms with $10bn or more. Most (70%) of tech and business executives have seen improvements in their cybersecurity this year, but fewer than 40% have fully mitigated emerging risks. The researchers noted that most respondents claimed progress on several fronts, notably in operational technology (OT) security (79%), ransomware defenses (77%), security by design, and increasing the efficiency of cyber resources (both 75%). However, less than 3% believe they have fully mitigated cyber risk related to all initiatives outlined in the report, which range from hybrid work and cloud adoption to IT–OT convergence and supply chain digitization. The researchers also found that just a fifth (19%) of respondents are fully confident they have taken steps to secure against the top four causes of cloud breaches. More than half (56%) of chief operating (COO) and chief risk officers (CROs) are extremely or very concerned about their company’s ability to withstand supply chain attacks. The researchers stated that less than half (46%) of COO/CROs that participated in the survey have controls in place to mitigate serious cyber-related disruption, and over half (54%) of CIOs/CISOs say security staff attrition is a problem.  

Infosecurity reports: "Mobile, Cloud and Email Are Top Threat Vectors For 2023"