There was a rise in data breaches in 2023

In light of advancing technology, it is crucial for companies to always be ready to address the possibility of a data breach. Threat actors are constantly working to infiltrate sensitive company data, underscoring the importance for security leaders to remain vigilant around the clock. A recent report by the Identity Theft Resource Center analyzed data breaches that occurred in 2023.

The report reveals that in 2023, data compromises in the U.S. exceeded 3,000. The total number of data breaches, exposures, leaks, and other events reached 3,205, impacting an estimated 353,027,892 victims, including those affected by multiple compromises. The number of compromises in 2023 represents a 78% increase from the previous year and a 72% increase from the previous record set in 2021.

According to the report, over 9% of publicly traded U.S. companies issued data breach notices in 2023, with public companies accounting for 40% of all data compromise victims. Notably, publicly traded companies were less transparent about attacks compared to private companies, government agencies, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations.

Since 2018, physical breaches have decreased by 65%. The estimated number of victims impacted saw a 16% decline from 2022, when a significant portion of the victim count was related to breaches announced at the end of the previous year. Three industries—healthcare, financial services, and transportation—reported more than double the number of compromises compared to 2022. While healthcare consistently led in reported compromises over the past five years, utilities companies had the highest estimated number of victims in 2023.

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