OPSWAT, a global leader in critical infrastructure protection (CIP) cybersecurity solutions, has released its 2024 Report: Email Security Threats Against Critical Infrastructure Organizations. Conducted in collaboration with Osterman Research, the study surveyed IT and security leaders in critical infrastructure sectors, revealing alarming statistics about email-related security breaches. The findings underscore a significant need for enhanced email security measures and a shift towards more robust, prevention-based strategies.

1. Prevalence of Email-Related Security Breaches

   • High Breach Rates: The report reveals that 80% of organizations within critical infrastructure experienced an email-related security breach in the past year. This high incidence rate highlights the sector's vulnerability to cyber threats that exploit email as a primary attack vector.
   • Common Attack Methods: Attackers are leveraging phishing attempts, malicious links, and harmful attachments to infiltrate networks. Once a breach occurs, these threats can spread throughout IT and operational technology (OT) environments, causing widespread damage.

2. Inadequate Email Security Measures

   • Lack of Confidence: Despite the rising threat landscape, 48% of organizations lack confidence in their current email security defenses. This gap leaves many entities exposed to potential cyberattacks and undermines their overall security posture.
   • Noncompliance Risks: The report highlights that 65% of organizations are not compliant with regulatory standards. This noncompliance not only increases operational and business risks but also signifies a broader failure to address critical security needs effectively.

3. Gaps in Advanced Security Capabilities

   • Missing Protections: Many organizations are lacking essential email security measures, including Content Disarm and Reconstruction (CDR), URL scanning for malicious signals, and anomaly detection within email messages. These advanced capabilities are crucial for preventing threats from reaching users' inboxes and mitigating potential damage.

4. Call for a Zero-Trust Approach

   • Adopting Zero-Trust: Yiyi Miao, Chief Product Officer at OPSWAT, emphasizes the necessity for a zero-trust mindset in email security. The prevalent approach of considering email messages and attachments as benign by default is a significant risk. Transitioning to a prevention-based perimeter defense strategy is essential for protecting critical infrastructure organizations from cyber threats.

OPSWAT's 2024 report highlights the urgent need for improved email security in critical infrastructure organizations. With 80% of entities experiencing email-related breaches and a notable gap in advanced security measures, it is crucial for organizations to adopt a zero-trust approach and enhance their defenses. By addressing these vulnerabilities and implementing comprehensive email security solutions, critical infrastructure sectors can better protect themselves against evolving cyber threats.