- Cisco Cyber-Security Report Finds Server Threats Increased in 2016
- Malware Shifts to Web-Based Attacks
- Adware is Pervasive
- Spam Is Rising Again
- Server Vulnerabilities Increase
- Budget Constraints Remain an Obstacle to Security
- Attacks Lead to Financial Loses
- Microsoft Had the Most Critical Vulnerability Advisories
- Time to Detection is Improving
Cisco Cyber-Security Report Finds Server Threats Increased in 2016
Cisco’s 2017 Annual Cybersecurity Report reveals some significant trends, including a dramatic rise in spam volume as well as an increase in server vulnerabilities.
Malware Shifts to Web-Based Attacks
The types of common malware seen by Cisco shifted in 2016 from being largely Trojan droppers, to increasingly focus on web based and browser vulnerabilities
Adware is Pervasive
Adware has grown over the past year with 75 percent of organizations reporting they have had some form of adware infection. Cisco defines adware as software that downloads or displays advertising through redirections, pop-ups and ad injections to produce revenue for its creators.
Spam Is Rising Again
While spam has been challenge for almost as long as email has existed, in recent years, volume had been declining. That changed in 2016 with spam accounting for approximately 65 percent of total email volume that Cisco monitors with its platforms.
Server Vulnerabilities Increase
Attackers are increasingly targeting servers, with 34 percent more server vulnerabilities reported in 2016. In contrast, both network and client vulnerabilities declined, year-over-year.
Budget Constraints Remain an Obstacle to Security
When asked about the biggest obstacles to security, 35 percent of respondents cited budget constraints, down from the 39 percent in the 2015 survey.
Attacks Lead to Financial Loses
Security attacks can have a real financial impact on victimized organizations, with 29 percent of Cisco’s survey respondents indicated that they lost revenue as a result of an attack.
Microsoft Had the Most Critical Vulnerability Advisories
According to Cisco’s report, Microsoft had the most critical vulnerabilities advisories across major vendors.
Time to Detection is Improving
Time to Detection is Improving
Among the metrics that Cisco tracks across its own organization is how much time it takes to detect threats. The media Time to Detection (TTD) various by month, though the overall trend is improving.