Data protection has emerged as the number one IT security challenge faced by Pakistani companies, according to the latest Kaspersky IT Security Economic Report.
The annual report, which tracks trends in IT security budgets, breaches, and decision-making challenges, surveyed IT professionals in 27 countries, including Pakistan.
The report revealed that 61% of Pakistani companies prioritize data protection as their main concern, which is much higher than the global average of 33%. Key issues include employee-related risks such as loss of physical devices and data leakage from company systems due to internal and external factors.
Globally, ineffective IT security was associated with downtime and lost productivity, cited by 38 percent of companies. However, only 20% of Pakistani companies reported this issue, attributing it to long detection and remediation times for cyber threats.
Additionally, 19% of Pakistani companies highlighted business process outsourcing as a notable challenge.
Securing complex technological environments and ensuring seamless data connectivity was a concern for 33 percent of global respondents compared to only 9 percent in Pakistan. These issues often arise from vulnerabilities in connected non-computer devices and ineffective cybersecurity solutions.
Alexei Vovk, Information Security Director at Kaspersky, stressed the importance of a comprehensive approach to IT security. “Attackers no longer rely solely on zero-day exploits. A simple click on a malicious link or a vulnerability in a contractor’s infrastructure can have devastating consequences,” he said, urging organizations to adopt comprehensive and systematic security measures.
To address these challenges, Kaspersky recommends integrated security solutions with real-time protection, advanced threat detection, and incident response capabilities. The report also advises companies to enhance their visibility into emerging threats and consider managed security services if they lack qualified information security professionals.