The latest analysis by cybersecurity and compliance expert Kiteworks has revealed that Colorado is the state most at risk of cyberattacks. With a risk score of 7.96 out of 10, Colorado’s businesses face significant threats from cybercriminals. Despite its mid-sized population of 5,877,610, the state reported 10,776 annual victims between 2020 and 2023. Financial losses from these attacks have surged by 58.7% since 2017, amounting to $104,476,603.
This increase in financial losses is particularly concerning when compared to neighboring states. For instance, Utah, with a comparable population size, reported significantly lower financial losses at $53,047,234. The aging population in Colorado may be a factor, as older individuals are often more susceptible to cybercrime.
Patrick Spencer, spokesperson at Kiteworks, commented on the results: “Our study reveals a concerning trend: cyberattacks are on the rise, both in frequency and financial impact. As cyber threats continue to evolve, proactive investment in advanced security technologies and employee training can significantly enhance a company’s resilience against cybercrime, as well as a greater focus on data security.
Businesses should adopt a content-defined zero trust approach to secure their sensitive communications. By consolidating email, file sharing, SFTP, managed file transfer, and web forms into a private content network protected by a hardened virtual appliance, organizations can ensure that sensitive content is only accessed by authorized users. This approach provides advanced security, comprehensive governance, and regulatory compliance, ensuring the protection of sensitive content.”
Please find the full dataset, including the data for all states here.
For more detailed insights, visit Kiteworks