TORONTO — More than a half of Canadian businesses targeted by cybercriminals in 2021 paid the amount of money requested by their hackers, with thirty-three per cent of those organizations getting a negotiator involved.
Fifty-six per cent of companies surveyed by IT consulting firm Novipro, in collaboration with Leger, paid the full amount, the study found.
Canadian businesses have become increasingly susceptible to cyberattacks as many employees continue to work remotely.
Nearly forty-three per cent of respondents are more worried about cyberattacks now compared with before the COVID-19 pandemic.
That number was higher in Ontario, where 56 per cent of businesses citing higher concern levels.
The study found that two-thirds per cent of organizations are taking the time to review their security practices, but suggested that organizations are still moving slowly on preventive measures, with just 40 per cent of respondents planning to offer training on cyberattacks. The percentage of companies training their teams has declined over the last few years, Novipro says.
This data comes from a survey conducted between Oct. 1 and 25, 2021, with 491 respondents.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published February 7, 2022.
The Canadian Press
