Insights on Sensitive Content from Verizon’s DBIR 2024
The Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR) has long been a must-read for cybersecurity professionals seeking to understand the ever-evolving landscape of data breaches and cyber threats. The 2024 edition continues this tradition, providing invaluable insights into the current state of cybersecurity and the challenges organizations face in protecting their sensitive data.
Several of the key findings from the 2024 DBIR resonate strongly with what we at Kiteworks have been saying about the critical importance of sensitive content communications security and compliance. A few data points jump out as especially relevant:
- A staggering 180% increase in the exploitation of vulnerabilities as the initial path to a data breach, underscoring the urgent need for organizations to prioritize vulnerability and patch management. This aligns with findings from our own Kiteworks Sensitive Content Communications Privacy and Compliance Report, where 77% of organizations struggle to identify the security tools necessary to achieve their objectives.
- 15% of data breaches are now connected to the supply chain, a 68% jump from the previous year. Our survey similarly found that 90% of organizations share sensitive content with over 1,000 third parties. Robust vendor risk management and security controls throughout the supply chain are paramount.
- Personal data, including personally identifiable information (PII) and protected health information (PHI), was the top target in breaches, figuring in over 50% of incidents, more than any other data type. This is concerning given the financial, legal, and reputational risks of personal data exposure. 93% of our survey respondents classify sensitive content, primarily driven by the need to protect PII and comply with expanding privacy regulations.
- The human element continues to loom large, with end-users accounting for 87% of errors leading to breaches. Kiteworks’ survey revealed only 22% of organizations have administrative policies for tracking and controlling sensitive content both on-premises and in the cloud. Comprehensive controls and user training are critical.
These findings underscore the complex challenges of securing sensitive content as it is shared internally and with a growing ecosystem of third parties. With threat actors increasingly targeting this data and regulators tightening compliance requirements, the risks have never been higher.
At Kiteworks, we believe organizations must take a proactive, holistic approach to sensitive content communications—one that combines robust security controls (including a hardened virtual appliance), comprehensive compliance capabilities, and a people-centric focus on training and ease of use. The 2024 DBIR is a powerful reminder of the urgency of this mission. We look forward to continuing to partner with our customers to tackle these challenges head-on in the year ahead.
| Risk/Breach Finding | Data Points | Kiteworks Survey Corroboration | How Kiteworks Mitigates the Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vulnerability Exploitation | 180% increase in vulnerability exploitation as the initial path to a data breach | 77% of organizations struggle to identify security tools necessary to achieve objectives | Kiteworks’ hardened virtual appliance architecture provides a secure, isolated environment for sensitive content communications, reducing the risk of vulnerability exploitation |
| Third-party Risk | 15% of data breaches are connected to the supply chain, a 68% jump from the previous year | 90% of organizations share sensitive content with over 1,000 third parties | Kiteworks offers granular access controls, comprehensive auditing, and next-gen DRM to secure content shared with third parties |
| Personal Data Breaches | Personal data was the top target in breaches, figuring in over 50% of incidents | 93% of respondents classify sensitive content, primarily to protect PII and comply with privacy regulations | Kiteworks provides advanced data protection features, including encryption, access controls, DLP, and compliance-friendly audit logs and reporting |
| Human Error | End-users account for 87% of errors leading to breaches | Only 22% of organizations have administrative policies for tracking and controlling sensitive content both on-premises and in the cloud | Kiteworks minimizes the risk of human error through granular access controls, comprehensive auditing and monitoring, and real-time DLP capabilities |
Key Verizon 2024 DBIR Takeaways on Sensitive Content Communications Security and Compliance
Changing Threat Landscape: Third-party Risk
As underscored in the 2024 Verizon DBIR, the rise in third-party risk is significant, with 15% of data breaches now tied to the supply chain—an astonishing 68% increase from the previous year. This escalation emphasizes the critical role of robust third-party risk management within today’s cybersecurity environment.
The growing dependency on complex networks of vendors, partners, and service providers significantly expands the attack surface. Threat actors exploit these vulnerabilities, particularly those in legacy managed file transfer systems like MoveIT, which are often built on outdated technologies.
The MoveIT breach is a case in point, demonstrating how vulnerabilities in such legacy systems can lead to extensive security failings. Noted in the 2024 DBIR, this breach significantly impacted various sectors, especially education, accounting for over 50% of the affected organizations.
At Kiteworks, we understand the complexities of protecting sensitive content as it traverses a vast third-party ecosystem. A cornerstone of our strategy is our hardened virtual appliance architecture, which provides a secure, isolated environment for sensitive content communications. Unlike traditional systems based on older technologies, our virtual appliance is designed with modern security measures in mind, helping organizations prevent incidents like the MoveIT breach and protect against sophisticated threats.
Assessing the Risk of Unsecure Third Parties
In an era where data breaches linked to third parties have surged by 68% year over year, accounting for 15% of all incidents as reported by the 2024 DBIR, the significance of choosing third-party partners with robust security controls cannot be overstated.
One profound way to enhance the security of third-party interactions is through the implementation of next-generation Digital Rights Management (DRM) solutions. Kiteworks’ next-gen DRM provides a formidable defense mechanism for ensuring that sensitive content remains protected not only within the organization’s perimeter but also when shared across its third-party ecosystem. Our DRM technology allows for precise control over who can view, edit, and distribute content, adding an extra layer of security.
Kiteworks DRM capabilities offer comprehensive auditing and tracking, ensuring that all interactions with sensitive content are logged and transparent. This level of detailed oversight is critical for detecting potential data breaches early and effectively responding to them.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Explosion in Vulnerability Exploitation:
The DBIR reports a staggering 180% increase in data breaches initiated through the exploitation of vulnerabilities. Organizations must prioritize rapid vulnerability detection and patch management to guard against these escalating threats. - Rising Third-party Risks:
There has been a 68% increase in data breaches related to third parties, now accounting for 15% of all breaches. This underscores the need for stringent third-party risk assessments and the implementation of robust security measures to protect shared data. - Prevalence of Human Error:
Human error continues to be a significant factor in cybersecurity incidents, implicated in over two-thirds of breaches. It is critical for organizations to enhance security protocols and provide comprehensive training to mitigate risks associated with human mistakes. - Importance of Protecting Personal Data:
Personal data remains the most targeted type of information, involved in more than half of all breaches. Organizations must enforce strict data protection policies and technologies to comply with regulations and protect sensitive personal information from unauthorized access. - Need for a Holistic Security Approach:
The complex and evolving nature of cyber threats highlighted by the DBIR requires a proactive and holistic approach to security. Organizations should integrate advanced security technologies, enforce comprehensive compliance standards, and cultivate a security-aware culture to effectively defend against sophisticated cyberattacks.
Misdelivery Remains a Persistent Problem
The 2024 DBIR illuminates a troubling trend: Over 50% of errors in 2023 stemmed from misdelivery. This prevalent issue underscores the challenges organizations face in managing and securing sensitive information, particularly when it involves electronic communication.
Addressing this challenge, the Kiteworks platform offers robust solutions designed to minimize the risks associated with misdelivery of sensitive content. Through advanced features such as content scanning, real-time policy enforcement, and machine learning algorithms, Kiteworks helps ensure that information is sent only to intended and authorized recipients.
Kiteworks’ content scanning capability checks for sensitive information within documents and emails before they are sent out. If potentially risky content is detected, the system can automatically block transmission or alert the user to double-check recipient details and content.
You Cannot Remove the Human Element from Data Breaches
The 2024 DBIR starkly highlights the critical role the human element plays in data breaches, noting that it is implicated in more than two-thirds of all incidents (68%). This predominant factor underscores the complex challenge organizations face in securing their data against not just external threats, but internal vulnerabilities that arise from human actions.
Necessity of Robust Security Training
To combat the risks associated with human error, comprehensive security awareness training is essential. Effective training programs actively engage employees in security processes, testing their understanding and readiness through simulations and regular assessments.
Kiteworks Mitigates the Impact of Human Error
Kiteworks plays a crucial role in addressing the human element of security. With a sophisticated array of features designed to minimize the risk of human error, Kiteworks ensures that sensitive information is only accessible under strict conditions by authorized personnel.
The platform’s granular access controls are essential in defining the scope of data accessibility and permissible actions for each user. Access permissions are meticulously customized according to the roles and responsibilities of individual users, ensuring they engage only with data necessary for their specific tasks.
In tandem with these stringent access controls, Kiteworks deploys comprehensive auditing and monitoring tools that meticulously track all interactions with sensitive data within the organization. This robust system logs every access and transfer of data, facilitating the early detection of unusual or unauthorized activities.
Privilege Misuse: A Serious Concern
Privilege misuse by both internal users and third parties remains a significant threat, with perpetrators exploiting legitimate access rights for unauthorized purposes. This risk is compounded when sensitive personal and internal information is involved.
To effectively combat privilege misuse, organizations must implement strict tracking and control systems. These systems are crucial for limiting access to sensitive data strictly to necessary roles and responsibilities, thereby reducing potential misuse while maintaining operational efficiency.
Kiteworks addresses the challenges of privilege misuse with a comprehensive suite of features, including next-generation DRM capabilities. Through technologies like SafeVIEW and SafeEDIT, Kiteworks ensures that sensitive content is not only accessed by authorized personnel but also protected against unauthorized editing and viewing.
Rationale Behind Attacks: Growing Sophistication
As we dig deeper into the 2024 DBIR, one trend stands out starkly: the increasing sophistication of cyberattacks. The staggering 180% increase in the exploitation of vulnerabilities as the initial path to a data breach underscores a significant shift in attacker tactics that poses new challenges for organizations seeking to defend their sensitive data.
The 180% increase in vulnerability exploitation as the critical path to a breach is a testament to this growing sophistication. Attackers are actively scanning for and leveraging vulnerabilities, often within hours or days of their public disclosure, using advanced tools and increasingly automating their attacks.
Defending against these sophisticated attacks requires a proactive, multilayered approach to security. Organizations need to prioritize vulnerability management, ensure robust access controls and multi-factor authentication, and implement real-time monitoring to detect and respond to threats quickly. They also need to secure sensitive data not just within their own walls, but across their entire digital supply chain.
At Kiteworks, our platform is designed to provide the advanced security controls, comprehensive visibility, and seamless user experience needed to protect sensitive content communications against even the most advanced threats.
Data Breaches and Targeted Data Types
The 2024 DBIR also reveals that roughly one-third of all incidents reviewed were data breaches where the confidentiality of data was compromised. Diving deeper into the types of data being targeted, the DBIR shows that personal data is the top target in breaches, figuring in over 50% of incidents, more than any other data type.
The high frequency of personal data breaches is particularly concerning given the potential consequences for organizations. Regulatory fines for noncompliance with data privacy laws like GDPR and U.S. state data privacy laws like CCPA can be substantial, reaching into the millions or even billions of dollars. Legal costs associated with a data breach can also be significant, including costs related to investigation, notification, credit monitoring, and potential settlements or judgments.
Beyond the direct financial costs, personal data breaches can also inflict serious damage to an organization’s brand reputation. Customers trust organizations with their personal data, and a breach of that trust can lead to a loss of business, negative publicity, and a long-term impact on customer loyalty and retention.
At Kiteworks, our approach starts with providing a secure, centralized platform for sensitive content communications. By bringing all sensitive content into a single, controlled environment, organizations can apply consistent security policies, access controls, and monitoring across all their data.
Kiteworks also provides advanced data protection features, including encryption of data in transit and at rest, granular access controls, real-time monitoring, and data loss prevention (DLP) capabilities. Importantly, Kiteworks is designed to facilitate compliance with a wide range of data privacy regulations, providing detailed audit logs, reporting, and access controls.
2024 Verizon DBIR: A Catalyst for Rethinking Sensitive Content Security
The 2024 DBIR paints a picture of a rapidly evolving threat landscape, where the risks to sensitive content are higher than ever before. From the dramatic rise in third-party breaches to the increasing sophistication of attacker tactics, the report underscores the urgent need for organizations to rethink their approach to sensitive content security.
Addressing these risks requires a comprehensive, proactive approach to sensitive content security. Organizations need to look beyond traditional perimeter-based defenses and adopt a more data-centric, zero-trust mindset. This means implementing strong access controls, encrypting sensitive data both in transit and at rest, and maintaining granular visibility and control over content as it’s shared across the extended enterprise.
The Kiteworks Private Content Network is designed to help organizations tackle these challenges head-on. By providing a secure, compliant platform for sensitive content communications, Kiteworks enables organizations to take control of their data, even as it’s shared across a complex ecosystem of partners, vendors, and customers.
As the Verizon 2024 DBIR makes clear, the threats to sensitive content are only growing more complex and more consequential. But with the right strategies, tools, and mindset, organizations can rise to the challenge. If you’re ready to take your sensitive content security to the next level, we invite you to learn more about how Kiteworks can help. Reach out to our team today to discuss your specific needs and challenges and discover how the Kiteworks platform can help you secure your sensitive content, streamline compliance, and build a more resilient, secure organization for the future.
FAQs
Here are five frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to the blog post on the insights from Verizon’s DBIR 2024, with detailed answers:
The 2024 Verizon DBIR highlights several critical cybersecurity threats including a 180% increase in the exploitation of vulnerabilities as an initial attack path, a significant rise in third-party risks with 15% of breaches tied to the supply chain, and the predominant targeting of personal data in over 50% of breaches. These findings emphasize the evolving complexity and scale of threats that organizations face, necessitating robust security and compliance measures.
The 2024 DBIR underlines a 68% year-over-year increase in data breaches connected to third parties, accounting for 15% of all incidents. This notable rise stresses the importance of rigorous third-party risk management and security controls. Organizations must carefully select and continuously monitor third-party partners to mitigate these heightened risks.
Human error is identified as a major component in cybersecurity breaches, implicated in more than two-thirds of all incidents. Errors such as misdelivery, weak password practices, and mishandling of sensitive information frequently lead to security vulnerabilities, highlighting the need for comprehensive security training and strict policy enforcement to reduce these risks.
To protect against the threats identified in the DBIR, organizations should adopt a multilayered security approach that includes prioritizing vulnerability and patch management, enhancing third-party risk management, and implementing stringent security controls. Additionally, fostering a culture of security awareness and training employees to recognize and mitigate risks is crucial.
Protecting personal data is crucial, as it is the primary target in over 50% of breaches, involving sensitive information like personally identifiable information (PII) and protected health information (PHI). The exposure of personal data can lead to substantial financial penalties, legal repercussions, and severe damage to an organization’s reputation. Effective data protection measures are essential to comply with privacy regulations and maintain trust with customers and stakeholders.
Additional Resources
- Video What Does Next-Generation Digital Rights Management Looks Like?
- Webinar The Anatomy of an MFT Breach
- Brief The Only Modern and Secure Managed File Transfer Solution
- Brief Top 5 Advantages of Kiteworks MFT Over Axway MFT
- Webinar What You Need to Know About Sensitive Content Communications Security and Compliance in 2024
- Guide How CISA Shifts the Principles of Security by Design and Default: A Comprehensive Guide