Increased cyber spending mulled by most organizations

Ninety-one percent of organizations across different industries are considering higher spending for cybersecurity in the next 12 months, with investments in artificial intelligence and machine learning for threat detection improvements, next-generation firewalls, IoT security systems, security email gateway tools, and endpoint detection and response technologies being key priorities, HealthITSecurity reports. However, ransomware attacks have impacted 50% of organizations during the past year even though 78% reported being "very" or "extremely" prepared against such intrusions, according to a Fortinet report. Phishing emails continued to be the most common means of compromise for the second year running but only one-third of surveyed organizations said they intend to bolster their email security defenses. The findings indicate the growing need for real-time response to cyber intrusions, said Fortinet Executive Vice President of Products and Chief Marketing Officer John Maddison. "However, this is only part of the solution as organizations cited the top challenges in preventing attacks were related to their people and processes. A holistic approach to cybersecurity that goes beyond investing in essential technologies and prioritizes training is essential," Maddison added.