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New Datto study exposes prevalence of ransomware cyber attacks on APAC businesses

Announcement posted by Datto 30 Nov 2016

85 per cent of MSPs report having customers victimised by ransomware attacks
Sydney, Australia November 30, 2016 — A new study by Datto, a leading provider of total data protection solutions for businesses around the world, has highlighted the prevalence of ransomware attacks on small businesses in Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia. Datto surveyed more than 100 managed service providers (MSPs) in the region, representing thousands of small businesses. Of the MSPs surveyed in Datto’s APAC Ransomware Research report, a staggering 85 per cent reported that their customers had experienced a ransomware attack in the past twelve months. 
 
In a clear indication of ransomware’s growth as a major impediment to business, 24 per cent of respondents revealed that they had experienced multiple attacks in a single day, a number experts anticipate will continue to grow. Ransomware attacks like these can cause crippling downtime for businesses. Forty-five per cent of survey respondents reported that a ransomware attack had led to business-threatening downtime.
 
“Ransomware is not about a couple of hacker kids sitting in the basement and messing around,” said James Bergl, Regional Director, ANZ. “It’s a major enterprise orchestrated by large and well-funded companies, and it’s becoming a massive problem for businesses, regardless of industry or geographical location. Our survey found that a considerable number of businesses experienced business-threatening downtime as a result of being attacked, and that most attacks sailed right past the anti-viruses and other measures small businesses think will protect them from such cybercrime.”
 
According to the survey’s findings, the average ransom amount paid was AUD$11,781 – a considerable expenditure for a small business with limited resources. Five per cent of respondents reported a ransom larger than AUD$20,000. Yet payment of the ransom does not guarantee the data’s return, with 14 per cent of respondents citing incidents in which payment did not result in the secure return of the hijacked data.
 
CryptoLocker was found to be the leading strain of ransomware, with 48 per cent of respondents falling victim to this Trojan, which targets computers running Microsoft Windows. Lack of end-user training, phishing emails and malicious websites and advertisements proved to be the leading sources of ransomware infections. Most respondents reported that anti-virus and anti-malware software, employee training and having a data backup and recovery solution in place were most effective in protecting a business from ransomware attacks.
 
“Our experience echoes the findings of this survey, and across the board, the industry is experiencing persistent and increasingly sophisticated ransomware attacks,” said Daniel Williams, Director and Head of Service Delivery, PowerNET. “A greater awareness of ransomware has definitely helped us in educating our clients on the appropriate cybersecurity precautions. Ultimately the threats will continue. Vigilance coupled with end-user education and deploying a suitable data protection and recovery solution is essential to successfully combating ransomware.”
 
Download a complimentary copy of Datto’s APAC Ransomware Research report.
 
Key findings from Datto’s APAC Ransomware Research
  • 85% of MSPs reported that their customers had experienced a ransomware attack in the past 12 months.
  • Nearly 25% of MSPs have experienced multiple ransomware attacks on their customers in a single day.
  • 45% of survey respondents reported a ransomware attack led to business-threatening downtime.
  • The average ransom amount paid by businesses in Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia in the past 12 months was AUD$11,781.
  • 5% of respondents reported a ransom larger than AUD$20,000.
  • CryptoLocker was found to be the leading strain of ransomware, with 48% of respondents falling victim, followed by CryptoWall and TorrentLocker.
About Datto
Datto protects essential business data for tens of thousands of the world’s fastest growing companies. Our Total Data Protection platform delivers uninterrupted access to data on site, in transit and in the cloud. Through Datto’s network of partners, we provide companies with products and services designed to continually keep business running. Businesses rely on Datto for industry leading technology combined with unrivaled customer service. Datto is headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut, and has offices in Rochester, Boston, Toronto, London, Singapore, and Sydney. Learn more at www.datto.com.
 
Media Contacts
Amanda Conroy/Amy Rathbone
Espresso Communications
datto@espressocomms.com.au
+61 2 8016 2200