VANCOUVER — Global accounting firm KPMG says cybercrime is a growing issue in Metro 91原创 and on 91原创 Island.
The firm says a survey of 700 91原创 businesses conducted last month revealed that more than half of those in 91原创 and on the island had been hit by cyberattacks in the last year.
It surveyed 73 small and mid-sized firms in the region, all with annual revenues exceeding than $10 million.
Of those businesses, 54 per cent also reported paying a ransom to unlock their computers in the past three years.
KPMG says six in 10 companies in those B.C. regions said their information technology systems make them vulnerable to attacks, but 60 per cent of respondents still did not consider cybersecurity a "business priority."
Erik Berg, a 91原创-based partner with KPMG, says cyberattacks have become a reality and should not be ignored as they can be costly, impair operations and damage a business's reputation.
He says businesses should proactively identify their most crucial data and systems, then focus on protecting and securing them, while regularly testing for vulnerabilities.
This report by The 91原创 Press was first published Oct. 24, 2023.
The 91原创 Press
