Compromised Devices Statistics 2024 – 2025: Costs, Attacks, Trends

• Breach Costs: Global average breach cost was $4.44M in 2025 down ~9% from $4.88M in 2024; the U.S. average hit $10.22M. Healthcare breaches remain costliest ~$7.4M.
• Incident Volume: Cybercrime volume is surging. The FBI IC3 reported ~859K complaints in 2024 ≈$16B losses, +33% YoY. Millions of new malware attacks are blocked daily Microsoft blocked ~4.5M per day in 2025.
• Top Vectors: Phishing/social engineering dominates: ~66% of breaches involve phishing; 97% of identity based attacks exploit passwords. Ransomware appeared in 44% of breaches up from ~32% prior year. Stolen credentials were factors in ~34% of breaches.
• YoY Changes: Breach detection improved average breach lifecycle fell from ~258 days in 2024 to ~241 days by 2025. Cloud/AI defenses saved ~$1.8–2.2M per breach. Conversely, IoT/OT attacks jumped ~46% now ~820K attacks/day and advanced phishing AI enabled and password spray campaigns rose sharply.
• Volume Metrics: The Internet of Things IoT is under siege ~820K attacks/day; industrial OT malware often uses web shells ≈50% of Linux malware. Cloudflare blocked 8.3M DDoS attacks in Q3 2025 +40% YoY and identified the Aisuru botnet ~1–4M IoT bots unleashing >1 Tbps floods.
• Industry Trends: Healthcare breaches average ~$7–10M. Finance breaches are smaller ~$5–6M but frequent. SMBs face the bulk of attacks 50%+ of all breaches with limited recovery budgets. Energy/Industrial OT saw the biggest cost jump ~18% YoY to $5.56M due to ransomware on operational networks.
• Regional Differences: The U.S. is hardest hit, nearly 25% of global attacks and has the highest breach costs. In Europe/MENA, regulators issued ~$1.2B in GDPR fines in 2024. APAC countries India, Indonesia, China account for many botnet nodes. Indonesia leads global DDoS sources, while China has very high PC infection rates.
• AI/Automation: AI is a double edged sword. Adversaries use AI for hyper targeted phishing and code obfuscation Microsoft notes AI assisted identity attacks rose 32% in early 2025. Defenders use AI to sift ~100 trillion signals/day and cut breach costs organizations with AI tools saved ~$2.2M per breach.

These highlights underscore the systemic challenge of 2025: an explosive threat landscape managed by a few dominant players e.g. Windows but penetrating virtually every sector. Below we unpack the data and trends.

Compromised devices encompass any endpoint, server, or IoT gadget whose security has been breached meaning its confidentiality, integrity, or availability is compromised. In 2024–2025, every device from mobile phones to industrial controllers has become a potential gateway for attackers. Statistics quantify this risk: for example, IBM reports the global average breach cost is ~$4.44M, while Microsoft processes ~4.5M new malware blocks each day. These staggering figures illustrate that device compromise is a pervasive macroeconomic variable. In the sections below, we analyze current data on how often devices are attacked, which vectors are used, which industries are impacted, and what this means for defense.

What Are Compromised Devices Statistics?

Compromised devices statistics are metrics that quantify how often, how severely, and in what ways devices desktops, servers, smartphones, IoT devices, etc. are breached by attackers. This includes breach counts, infection rates by OS, attack vectors e.g. phishing vs. exploits, costs of breaches, and so on. Think of it like a public health report for networks: it measures the infection rate, percentage of devices affected, the mortality cost/damage, and the transmission vector attack methods. For example, one can analogize a compromised device stat like 820,000 attacks per day on IoT to the number of daily flu cases in a city. It tells security teams how widespread the problem is. These stats matter because they highlight which devices and methods are driving breaches, guiding where to focus defenses and policies.

Consider a familiar analogy: if a computer network were a city, compromised devices statistics are the crime statistics. They tell you which neighborhoods, industries or device types are hit hardest, whether the crimes are violent ransomware or property data theft, and how quickly law enforcement detection responds. Just as crime stats inform public policy, breach stats inform cybersecurity strategy. For example, knowing that 97% of identity attacks use stolen passwords is like knowing burglars almost always enter through the front door; it tells us to reinforce that door with MFA.

Global Overview 2024–2025

We begin with key global metrics across 2024–2025. The table below compares headline figures year over year:

Key takeaways from this overview:

• Costs: Global breach costs peaked in 2024 $4.88M and modestly improved by 2025 $4.44M thanks to quicker response. The U.S. remains far above the global average $10.22M. Healthcare consistently tops the charts IBM reports ~$9.8M in 2024, and still highest into 2025.
• Spread: The Internet of Things and connected infrastructure are under intense automated attack: ~820K probe attempts per day in 2025 up ~46% YoY. Large scale DDoS attacks have spiked +40% Q3 vs Q3.
• Vectors: Phishing/social engineering drove ~66% of breaches, and credential theft is rampant 97% of identity attacks use weak/passwords. Ransomware’s share jumped to 44%, making it ubiquitous.
• Detection: Encouragingly, the average breach lifecycle is falling from 277 days in 2023 to 258 in 2024, and ~241 in 2025 thanks to AI driven detection. Organizations with strong AI/automation detected and contained incidents ~108 days faster.

Together, these trends paint a picture of a cyber ecosystem under siege: attacks are growing in volume and sophistication, but defenders are deploying AI/automation to blunt the impact.

Cost Breakdown

Breach costs vary widely by region and sector. IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach Report shows a global average of $4.44M per incident in 2025 down ~9% from $4.88M in 2024. The U.S. leads all countries now ~$10.22M, driven by legal and notification costs. In Europe, costs rose moderately GDPR fines add to expenses, while Asia/Pacific remains below global average in most cases.

Within industries, healthcare records the highest breach costs often 1.5×–2× the global mean. IBM reported ~$9.8M for healthcare in 2024; recent data suggest ~$7.4M in 2025 still by far the worst of any sector. Banking/finance and tech generally fall in the mid single digit million range; for example, Ponemon found finance at ~$5.9M, which IBM’s 2024 analysis confirms ~$5.9M. Industrial/manufacturing costs surged 18% in 2024, averaging $5.56M, likely due to costly operational disruptions. Retail and government sectors tend to sit near or below the global average, although high profile cases e.g. a large retailer breach can skew this.

Below is a summary table of cost indicators:

The slight drop in global average cost is attributed to faster breach detection and containment via AI/automation. Nonetheless, breach costs remain steady at multi million levels. Notably, organizations with mature AI defenses report $1.8–2.2M lower breach costs, highlighting the financial benefit of investing in security automation.

Attack Vector Distribution

Below we break down breach causes by vector:

Phishing/Social Engineering: The top initial attack path. Verizon’s DBIR found 66% of breaches involved phishing attempts e.g. malicious emails, links. Phishing driven breaches tend to be costly Ponemon shows ~$4.8M on average because they can lead to broad network compromise. Attacks often combine phishing with stolen credentials: about 34% of breaches involve credential theft.

Ransomware: Present in nearly half of breaches. Ransomware is both attack vector and outcome; it often follows initial access via phishing or vulnerabilities. Verizon notes ransomware was involved in 75% of system intrusion breaches in 2024. The average cost of a ransomware incident can approach $5M or more DowJones/Microsoft surveys, given combined encryption and extortion losses.

Supply Chain: These attacks exploit trust in third party software or services. Gartner predicts ~45% of organizations will suffer a software supply chain breach by 2025. Recent incidents e.g. npm/Log4j, SolarWinds show high impact: a single compromised library can seed thousands of organizations. While not yet the most common vector, supply chain incidents often have extremely high cost and broad reach.

Misconfigurations/Cloud: As enterprises adopt hybrid/multi cloud, misconfigured cloud services open S3 buckets, exposed APIs are increasingly a factor. IBM reported ~40% of breaches involved multiple environments, and breaches solely in public cloud averaged ~$5.17M in 2024. Misconfiguration by itself can lead to large data leaks.

Stolen Credentials: Attackers frequently use leaked or phished logins. Verizon finds that around 34% of breaches involved the use of stolen credentials. High profile password dumps e.g. COLDBOOT drive credential stuffing attacks across sites.

Insider Threats: Rare Verizon ~5% breaches but costly when they occur. These include malicious or compromised employees leaking data. Average costs of insider initiated breaches $4–5M are similar to external breaches, but detection is harder.

AI/Deepfake Phishing: A new and emerging vector. Attackers use generative AI to craft highly convincing spear phishing emails or fake identities. Microsoft highlights that 97% of identity attacks still use basic tactics password spray, but notes that AI enhanced phishing is beginning to raise click through rates dramatically Microsoft reports AI crafted emails hit ~54% click rates vs 12% for traditional. We expect this threat to grow.

Industry Breakdown

Different sectors face different risk profiles:

• Healthcare: Consistently highest costs. Average breach cost ~$7–10M IBM/Ponemon. Almost 75% of healthcare IoT medical devices run outdated OS, making them prime targets. Data medical records are both highly regulated and valuable, so breaches lead to heavy fines and patient safety impacts. The 2024 Change Healthcare breach, one of the largest, showed how a single provider compromise can disrupt an entire ecosystem.
• Finance & FinTech: Financial firms see frequent attacks, business email compromise, banking trojans but slightly lower per incident costs $4–6M. Verizon noted financial services comprised ~17% of breaches in 2024. Banking trojans on Android, credential stuffing and ATM skimmers drive many incidents. However, these firms invest heavily in security, so time to detect is often shorter than in other industries.
• Technology/Telecom: Tech companies hold valuable IP and cloud data; breaches here average mid single digit millions. Cloud service providers have broad impact: e.g. exploits of cloud control plane APIs can cascade. Tech firms also are early adopters of security tech, which helps detection.
• Manufacturing/Industrial: With the rise of IIoT and smart factories, manufacturers see rising attacks. IBM reports a 2024 average cost $5.56M for industrial breaches 18% rise YoY. OT systems SCADA, PLCs now connect to IT networks, enabling ransomware. Production downtime >$100K/hr in some plants drives these costs up.
• Retail & e Commerce: Often targeted by credential stuffing and card skimmers. Attackers use bots to scalps goods and test stolen cards. While average breach cost ~$5M is below healthcare, the volume of incidents is high. Notably, retail has seen increases in third party supply chain attacks e.g. hacked POS software.
• Government & Education: Public sector breaches e.g. K 12, universities also climb. These sectors often have limited security budgets, so recovery is harder. Costs often $3–5M include restoration of citizen data and services. Regulatory scrutiny e.g. FERPA, FISMA also adds to fallout.

In summary, healthcare stands out as the most financially and operationally impacted by device compromises. SMBs in all sectors also endure a heavy volume of attacks; though each may cost less, many small firms lack backup and go under after a breach. Critical sectors like energy and telecom now face increasingly frequent high cost events often nation state or ransomware driven, as IT/OT convergence brings devices into play.

Regional Breakdown

Globally, cyber risk is uneven.

• North America U.S./Canada: The U.S. remains the primary target. As per Microsoft threat intel, the U.S. accounted for ~25% of all attacks and ~74% of activity in the Americas region primarily due to its economic prominence. U.S. breach costs are the highest $10.22M driven by regulatory fines and litigation. Notably, from H1 2025 Cloudflare data shows the U.S. took ~14.3% of global DDoS floods, the top single country target. The robust cyber insurance market in the U.S. both reflects and fuels targeting attackers who know paydays are possible.
• Europe / MENA: Europe saw roughly 30–33% of global cyberattacks 2023–24. EU regulators collectively fined over €1.2B in GDPR penalties in 2024, mostly tech giants. The UK and Germany saw surges in hacks on critical infrastructure often politically motivated. The breach notification rate in some countries NL, DE, PL exceeded 75K reports per year. Overall, Europe grapples with both financial crime and nation state spillover e.g. cyber in Russia Ukraine conflict affecting NATO allies.
• Asia Pacific APAC: APAC is a mixed landscape. Countries like Indonesia and India are major sources of botnet traffic. Cloudflare notes Indonesia as the world’s top source of DDoS traffic since late 2024. China has extraordinarily high malware infection rates reported ~47% of PCs infected in 2024, though its outbound data is often censored in public reports. APAC firms face increasing fraud and ransomware for example, Southeast Asian banks reported 2× year over year banking Trojan incidents in 2024 Kaspersky data. Japan, Australia, and Singapore see aggressive state sponsored campaigns too.
• Latin America / Africa MEA: These regions see rising attack volume but lower monetary valuations per breach. e.g. Nigeria is a known hub for cybercrime especially mobile scams and banking fraud, while oil/gas firms in the Middle East report targeted OT attacks. Data on costs here is sparser, but disruption is high many African nations have >40% mobile connections compromised by malware. Regulatory enforcement like LGPD in Brazil is also tightening, so expect costs to climb.

In short, while the U.S. and Western Europe face the highest per-incident costs and volumes, many emerging regions serve as cyber launchpads botnets, carding crews that fuel global campaigns. Geopolitical hotspots Russia/China vs. NATO, Iran tensions clearly drive spikes in cyber operations, as does transnational organized crime.

Major Breaches of 2024–2025

Several high profile incidents illustrate these trends:

• Chinese Surveillance Data Leak June 2025: A massive unsecured database containing 4 billion Chinese users’ records WeChat, Alipay, etc. was exposed online. Believed to be from a government surveillance system, this breach underscores the risks when data is poorly protected. Security researchers say this is the largest known single source leak of Chinese personal data.
• CrowdStrike Update Incident Jul 2024: An errant CrowdStrike agent update caused blue screen crashes on ~8.5 million Windows endpoints worldwide. Though not malicious, it demonstrated how a flaw in security software can mimic a mass compromise, temporarily disabling emergency services and day to day operations. It highlighted the monoculture risk of heavily centralized endpoint agents.
• Qantas Airlines Breach Jul 2025: Qantas disclosed a breach affecting 5.7 million customers. The attackers Scattered Spider gang tricked a third party call center vendor, exfiltrating names, emails, and Frequent Flyer data. No financial data was stolen, but the incident via social engineering demonstrated how extensive damage can occur via supply chain attack paths.
• McDonald’s McHire Leak Jul 2025: The McHire AI based applicant system was found to have exposed data of ~64 million job applicants. In this case, a trivial weak password 123456 and an unpatched IDOR flaw allowed attackers to download the database. This wasn’t a malware exploit at all, but a glaring misconfiguration/oversight in an IoT similar service, revealing how insecure IoT and AI systems can leak PII at scale.
• Co op UK Ransomware Apr 2025: One of the UK’s largest retailers suffered a ransomware attack that shut down stores and exfiltrated 6.5 million loyalty members’ data. The gang Scattered Spider again gained access via an employee’s phished credentials and moved laterally. Notably, Co op’s quick IT shutdown avoided encryption damage, but the data leak underscores that data extortion is now separate from system encryption.
• Allianz Life Jul 2025: A U.S. unit of Allianz was breached via a third party CRM vendor. Attackers socially engineered help-desk staff to access the CRM, exposing most of the insurer’s 1.4M customer records SSNs, addresses, etc.. This supply chain incident highlights how any connected service can serve as a backdoor to huge data troves.
• Ingram Micro Ransomware Jul 2025: The IT supply chain giant Ingram Micro was hit by a global ransomware SafePay, disrupting hardware distribution worldwide. Preliminary estimates put losses over $136M. This attack via likely phishing showed the cascading impact on hardware availability and partners, emphasizing risk in interconnected B2B ecosystems.

Each of the above illustrates a key point: successful compromises often exploit human or supply chain weaknesses, social engineering, and misconfigured platforms to reach high value targets. They also show the diversity of devices involved from cloud services to legacy ITMs. McDonald's is not a typical device but rather an IoT like platform.

Emerging Trends 2024–2025

Several notable trends have emerged in 2024–2025:

• AI Driven Offense: Attackers are adopting AI to supercharge attacks. Generative AI is used to craft hyper realistic phishing emails and deepfake lures. Microsoft reports identity attacks rose 32% in early 2025, with 97% still using password sprays, but AI is ramping up the quality and volume of such attacks. State actors are using AI to scan for vulnerabilities at unprecedented speed. Despite this, fully autonomous AI malware is still nascent; most AI use is in toolkit and social engineering.
• AI Enhanced Defense: On the flip side, defenders are using machine learning for threat hunting. Microsoft’s AI analyzes 100 trillion signals per day to detect anomalies. According to IBM, organizations using AI/automation in security identified breaches ~108 days faster and saved roughly $1.9–2.2M per breach. In other words, AI can dramatically shorten dwell time when properly applied.
• Identity as Perimeter: The industry is shifting focus from network perimeter to identity. Identity attacks, phishing, password spray eclipsed many traditional exploit methods. Microsoft says 97% of identity based intrusions exploited passwords. Credential access and valid logins now account for the majority of breaches Verizon found stolen creds in ~34% of cases. MFA and zero trust architectures are becoming the new baseline and it works: Microsoft notes phishing resistant MFA stops >99% of account breaches.
• Supply Chain and IoT Risks: Recent supply chain attacks e.g. SolarWinds, Log4Shell have put all organizations on high alert. Gartner predicts nearly half of firms will suffer a software supply chain attack by 2025. Pre-installed malware BadBox style and unvetted hardware/components continue to slip into enterprises. IoT itself is a massive vulnerability: up to 98% of IoT traffic is unencrypted, and 60% of IoT breaches come via unpatched firmware. The emergence of botnets like Aisuru 1–4 million devices shows how insecure IoT can be weaponized at scale.
• Ransomware Evolution: Ransomware remains a top threat but with tactical shifts. Encrypting data is sometimes optional now attackers often exfiltrate data to extort victims without triggering backups. The Verizon DBIR notes pure extortion no encryption is rising. Ransom attacks are more targeted big game hunting against large companies, hospitals, and critical infrastructure. Frequency is staggering. One study says a ransomware attack hits a business every 11 seconds 7,850 per day globally. However, faster response cycles median dwell time ~5 days for ransomware, down from 11 slightly to mitigate impact.
• Supply Chain Hardware/Software and Quantum Threat: Concerns are growing over dirty hardware and future attacks. A wave of attacks through compromised electronics supply chain BadBox 2.0 affected firmware on millions of consumer IoT devices. On the horizon is the harvest now, decrypt later threat: adversaries are collecting encrypted data now via breaches or intercepts in hopes that quantum computers will decrypt it in the next decade. NIST has begun formalizing post quantum crypto standards in anticipation.

What These Statistics Mean

The statistics above translate into clear strategic imperatives:

• Assume Compromise: With devices so easily breached, organizations must operate under the assumption of compromise. The prolonged breach lifecycles ~241 days on average mean attackers roam freely unless caught. Thus, zero trust principles verifying every user/device access dynamically are essential. Real time monitoring and segmenting networks limit blast radius.
• Prioritize Identity and Data Security: Since 97% of identity attacks still use simple password tactics, protecting credentials and sessions is paramount. Phishing resistant MFA hardware keys, FIDO2 is no longer optional, it can stop virtually all credential theft based breaches. Similarly, encrypting sensitive data everywhere even on IoT can mitigate damage when devices are lost or stolen.
• Leverage AI Defensively: The data show AI yields significant risk reduction when used for defense. Automated threat detection and response shave weeks off breach response and save millions. Organizations lagging in AI will fall behind; the 2024 IBM report found only 32% of industrial firms fully use AI/automation, missing out on an average $1.9M cost reduction.
• Strengthen Supply Chain Vetting: Given the skyrocketing supply chain threats, firms must demand transparency SBOMs from vendors, perform rigorous code audits, and use third party risk management. Continuous scanning for dependency vulnerabilities like Log4j patching should be ingrained. The costs of neglect are skyrocketing supply chain incidents can affect thousands through a single vulnerability.
• Invest in Resilience: Even the best defenses will fail occasionally. Rapid recovery backups, incident playbooks are now survival critical. Preparing for worst case scenarios air gapped backups, manual workflows limits the long term damage of an inevitable breach. Statistics show organizations with strong IR preparedness reduce costs by up to 20%.

Overall, the numbers emphasize a shift from preventive keep attackers out to a resilience mindset of expecting that they will get in. Cybersecurity must be budgeted not just as cost avoidance, but as an essential insurance for the global digital economy.

Best Practices

Based on the above insights, organizations should:

• Adopt Strong MFA and Identity Controls: Require phishing resistant methods, hardware tokens, FIDO2 for all privileged and high risk accounts. This can block >99% of credential attacks. Regularly audit and rotate credentials, and monitor for leaked password re-use via breach feeds.
• Implement Zero Trust: Enforce strict network micro segmentation and conditional access: trust no device or network by default. Use EDR/XDR tools to continuously evaluate device health and user behavior before granting access.
• Harden IoT/OT Assets: Change all default passwords on IoT/OT devices and apply the latest firmware patches. Segment IoT networks away from core IT. Use intrusion detection for unusual IoT traffic. For industrial networks, employ strict network separation and least privilege controls e.g. jump boxes instead of direct access.
• Secure the Software Supply Chain: Maintain a Software Bill of Materials SBOM for all deployed software. Vet third party components and libraries for vulnerabilities. Keep systems up to date with patches especially on VPNs, firewalls, cloud management consoles. Apply defense in depth: assume a breached library and monitor its behavior at runtime.
• Invest in Threat Detection AI/Automation: Deploy SIEM/SOAR solutions with AI analytics to spot anomalies. Leverage threat intelligence feeds for known IoCs e.g. APT domains, botnet IPs. Aim to cut mean time to detect/contain MTTD/MTTC studies show each day of reduction saves ~$1M.
• Test Resilience: Conduct regular incident response drills and backup recoveries. Ensure backups are isolated/offline immune to on network ransomware. Plan to operate while compromised modes e.g. paper processes. Breach preparation is now as important as breach prevention.
• Educate and Simulate: Train employees on phishing/social engineering risks. Use red team exercises e.g. spear phishing simulations to measure and improve human defenses. Empower security teams with tabletop exercises focused on emerging threats AI, IoT exploitation, etc..

By treating these statistics as actionable intelligence, not just alarming news organizations can align resources to where they’re most needed. The era of fortress perimeter is over; resilience, visibility, and identity centric security are the new basics.

FAQs

• What is considered a compromised device?

A compromised device is any endpoint desktop, mobile, server, IoT gadget whose security has been breached. This means an attacker has gained unauthorized access or control, potentially altering or exfiltrating data. Common signs include unknown processes, unusual network traffic, or alerts from antivirus/EDR tools. For statistics purposes, a device is counted as compromised if it played a role in a confirmed breach or infection.

• How common are device compromises worldwide?

Extremely common. For example, the FBI’s 2024 report showed 859,532 cybercrime complaints in the U.S., a 33% rise. Globally, vendors like Microsoft report blocking ~4.5 million malware attempts daily. Automated scans hit IoT devices hundreds of thousands of times per day. In 2024, the average enterprise saw hundreds of intrusion attempts per year. In short, cyber incidents affect organizations continuously, making compromises a daily reality.

• Which devices and operating systems are most often compromised?

By sheer volume, Windows PCs lead. In 2025, Surfshark data shows ~87% of malware detections were on Windows vs ~13% on macOS about 7× more on Windows. Windows’ dominance of 71% desktop market share and legacy code make it a big target. Among non desktops, Android suffers heavy infection rates banking trojans, adware due to its open app ecosystem. IoT devices cameras, routers, embedded controllers are increasingly targeted in mass scanning botnets; estimates suggest 820K attacks per day on IoT on average. Even though Linux has <2% desktop share, it powers 90% of public cloud servers, and attacks on Linux servers SSH brute force, webshells, cryptominers have surged.

• What are the top methods attackers use to compromise devices?

The data indicate social engineering and credential misuse lead. Around 66% of breaches involved phishing or pretexting. Nearly all identity based intrusions 97% exploit weak credentials. Ransomware often delivered via malicious email links or drive by downloads is involved in ~44% of breaches. Supply chain attacks on software and hardware e.g. compromised libraries, infected firmware are also rising. Traditional exploits zero days still occur, but attackers increasingly find it easier to trick users or steal logins than to crack up to date systems.

• How much do data breaches cost businesses on average?

The 2025 IBM/Ponemon report found a global average of $4.44 million per breach. This varies by region: the U.S. average is about $10.22 million, while some countries see lower figures. Costs include incident response, legal fines, lost business, and remediation. Healthcare breaches top the list ~$7–10M due to patient data sensitivity. In contrast, small breaches may only cost hundreds of thousands. On a per record basis, IBM found an average of ~$160 per lost record.

• Which industries face the highest risk or cost from compromised devices?

Healthcare is consistently the riskiest financially highest breach costs. But frequency is highest in industries like finance and retail: banks and payment firms face constant attacks though their costs per breach are moderate, while retail sees frequent point of sale and e-commerce attacks. Manufacturing/Industrial is catching up as a target due to ICS vulnerabilities, it saw the largest cost increase in 2024 IBM: +18% to $5.56M because outages are so expensive. Government and Education see many compromises often nation state or ransomware but have varied budgets for recovery. Overall, industries with high value data-health records, financial info, IP and low tolerance for downtime pay the most.

• How can organizations protect devices against being compromised?

Based on current stats, key steps are:

• Enable strong multi factor authentication MFA: Microsoft reports phishing resistant MFA blocks ~99% of account compromise attempts.
• Patch and configure thoroughly: keep systems especially IoT and cloud services up to date and avoid default credentials.
• Segment networks & enforce zero trust: assume devices may be breached; limit lateral movement.
• Monitor and respond with AI/EDR: use AI driven tools to detect anomalies faster organizations using AI reduced breach costs by ~$1.9M on average.
• Educate users: since social engineering drives ~66% of breaches, training and simulated phishing exercises are critical. These measures, if diligently applied, can dramatically reduce the window of attacker control and mitigate damage.

The 2024–2025 data paint a stark reality: devices worldwide are under relentless attack. Ubiquitous connectivity and sophisticated attackers mean compromises are the norm, not the exception. While defenders are leveraging AI and better visibility to shorten breach lifecycles, adversaries are exploiting the same AI to craft deeper phishing campaigns. The stats underscore one lesson: no device is invulnerable. The path forward is a security posture built on resilience, assuming breaches will happen and focus on containment and recovery. In an era of billions of connected devices, success will go to those who secure not by perfection of defenses, but by the speed and robustness of their response when the inevitable breach occurs.

About the Author

Mohammed Khalil is a Cybersecurity Architect at DeepStrike, specializing in advanced penetration testing and offensive security operations. With certifications including CISSP, OSCP, and OSWE, he has led numerous red team engagements for Fortune 500 companies, focusing on cloud security, application vulnerabilities, and adversary emulation. His work involves dissecting complex attack chains and developing resilient defense strategies for clients in the finance, healthcare, and technology sectors.