Survey: 39 Percent of IT Professionals Say Phishing is the Most Feared Cyberattack

  • Dec 28, 2023

Axiad, a provider of organization-wide passwordless orchestration, today announced the results of its 2023 State of Authentication Survey. The survey investigated the types of cyberattacks respondents were most afraid of and prepared for, how their organizations held up against password-based attacks, if and why companies are still using passwords, and what cybersecurity technologies companies plan to use in 2024.

The survey, which was conducted in October 2023, collected more than 200 responses from U.S. information technology (IT) professionals, including hardware and software, across a variety of industry verticals, including financial, government, retail, manufacturing, healthcare, education, telecommunications and more.

Key findings from the survey revealed:

  • 39% indicated phishing is the most feared cyberattack, while 49% said it is the attack most likely to happen.
  • 88% felt their company was prepared to defend against a password-based cyberattack, yet 52% said their business has fallen victim to one within the last year.
  • Despite password woes, 93% of respondents are still using passwords for business, citing that the biggest reasons they still use them are fear of change (64%), the potential need to rip and replace technology (54%), time constraints (51%) and lack of staff (25%).
  • When asked whose fault they think exploited passwords are, respondents' answers varied: IT staff (35%), end users (32%), security teams (25%) and leadership (8%).
  • When asked what technologies respondents will use over the next year, 45% said they will use passwordless technology, and 27% said they will use phishing-resistant multi-factor authentication (MFA).
  • When asked which recent guidance has most impacted their organization's authentication strategy, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) came out on top (41%), followed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) (26%) and the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) (13%).

"Generative AI has significantly lowered the entry barrier for cybercriminals to craft highly effective phishing emails, and when you combine that with poor password management, it's no surprise that the volume of successful phishing and password-based attacks continues to skyrocket," said Bassam Al-Khalidi, co-founder and co-CEO of Axiad. "The survey results are alarming because, despite the rising number of these cyberattacks, most companies are still stuck in the status quo of using passwords as their primary method of authentication. Fear of change is no excuse. Organizations need to act now to combat advanced cybercriminals, or they will continue to be at risk. In today's threat landscape, the most effective thing they can do to bolster their cybersecurity posture is implement passwordless authentication and phishing-resistant MFA."

For more data points from the survey, download the State of Authentication Survey report.

Featured

  • The Evolution of IP Camera Intelligence

    As the 30th anniversary of the IP camera approaches in 2026, it is worth reflecting on how far we have come. The first network camera, launched in 1996, delivered one frame every 17 seconds—not impressive by today’s standards, but groundbreaking at the time. It did something that no analog system could: transmit video over a standard IP network. Read Now

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.”

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.