Cybercriminals are increasingly
aggressive and specialized, so much so that cybercrimes reported
by companies, from the smallest to large international groups,
have increased by 45.5% in four years, compared to a 10%
increase in all crimes against business, small business group
Confartigianato said Tuesday.
That is, more than four times as many, said the association.
But it also said companies are taking countermeasures: for
example, by strengthening protection through the use of
artificial intelligence.
The most affected regions include Tuscany, where cybercrime
incidents against businesses have increased by 88.3% in four
years, followed by Veneto (+63.7%), Marche (+56%), Puglia
(+54.7%), Lazio (+53.2%), Emilia Romagna (+53%), Piedmont (47%),
and Lombardy (45.5%).
Confartigianato raised the alarm, noting the trend in scams,
fraud, and online attacks suffered by entrepreneurs between 2019
and 2023.
“From multinationals to small businesses, hackers are sparing no
one,” says Confartigianato President Marco Granelli.
“We need effective digital security regulations that are easily
applicable to all sizes of businesses, as well as incentives to
support investments in protecting corporate data.”
Overall, Confartigianato notes, cybercrimes account for 35.5% of
crimes against businesses. 15.8% of businesses, compared to the
EU average of 21.5%, experienced at least one cyber incident
resulting in ICT service disruptions, data destruction, or data
disclosure.
However, Italian businesses appear to be aware of the need to
protect their data assets.
Confartigianato (Italian Confederation of Craftsmen) highlights
that 83.1% place a high priority on cybersecurity, a percentage
that exceeds the European Union average (71.1%) and places Italy
second after Ireland.
By 2024, 42.6% of businesses have invested in cybersecurity,
including adopting artificial intelligence tools.
Despite this, only 32.2% of entrepreneurs adopt at least seven
of the 11 security measures monitored by ISTAT, lower than the
EU average of 38.5%.
The lack of adequate skills in the labor market is hindering
efforts to defend against cyber threats. 22.8% of Italian
companies report difficulty finding specialized cybersecurity
personnel, compared to the European average of 12%.
Specifically, companies are struggling to hire system designers
and administrators, including cybersecurity experts: 6,300 were
needed in 2024, but 4,000 were hard to find.
Piedmont and Valle d’Aosta, Emilia-Romagna, Veneto, Lazio, and
Lombardy are the regions with the greatest shortage of these
professionals. “Digitalization,” Granelli emphasizes, “if not
adequately protected, exposes companies to ever-increasing
risks.
“Knowledge, practical tools, and resources are needed to defend
themselves. But above all, cybersecurity must be considered a
fundamental pillar of innovation and economic growth.”
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