Adrian Johnson
TLDR:
– Financial services sector remains the top target for DDoS attacks for the second consecutive year
– APJ region faces significant cybersecurity challenges with a high threat score for phishing
A new report by Akamai Technologies has revealed that the financial services sector continues to be the most frequently targeted industry for Layer 3 and 4 distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, accounting for 34% of such attacks. The Asia-Pacific and Japan (APJ) region is facing cybersecurity challenges due to its varied economic landscape, making it a prime target for cyber threats. The region has the highest median threat score for phishing, primarily due to suspicious domains and requests.
Reuben Koh, Director of Security Technology & Strategy, APJ at Akamai Technologies, emphasized the need for financial institutions to adopt advanced cybersecurity measures to protect assets and data, ensure compliance, and stay ahead of innovation in educating customers on phishing and scam tactics. The report also highlights the rise in Layer 7 DDoS attacks targeting applications via APIs and the risk posed by undocumented shadow APIs that are often unprotected.
Financial services are also the most affected sector by brand impersonation and abuse, with phishing dominating counterfeit domains targeting financial services. It is crucial for technology decision-makers to carefully consider where to automate, delegate, and outsource to protect assets and maintain customer loyalty. With financial services being the most targeted industry for web application and API attacks in the APJ region, Chief Information Security Officers must make informed decisions to enhance security.
