18% of Latvian Companies Hit by Cyberattacks This Year, Only 15% Offer Regular Staff Training

In Latvia, 18% of companies have experienced cyberattacks this year, up from 14% last year. This follows from the latest survey by telecom company Bite Latvija and the public opinion research agency SKDS, which covered 750 companies. At the same time, only 15% of businesses provide regular cybersecurity training for staff, suggesting the human factor still receives too little attention.

Protective measures in use

To protect their data, 66% of companies regularly update software and 61% make backup copies. Two-factor authentication, an additional identity check when logging into accounts, is used by 33%. Use of these measures has grown, but experts stress that technical solutions alone are not enough.

Employee behavior as a risk

Māris Priekulis, a representative of Bite Latvija, says employee behavior remains one of the most significant risks. Even in a well-protected company, opening a fraudulent link can create serious threats. Over the past year, 9% of companies encountered such attacks, compared with 7% a year earlier.

Managers' concerns and obstacles

In the survey, 30% of company managers said they worry about possible financial losses in the event of a cyberattack, while 21% fear customer data theft. A further 24% admit that a disruption of their IT systems for two or three days would cause major losses.

High costs and a shortage of specialists also hinder improvements in cybersecurity. Jānis Delviņš, a representative of the Latvian State Radio and Television Centre, stresses that companies need clear rules on the use of artificial intelligence so that employees do not enter confidential information into such tools.