Remote Workers Significantly Increase the Cost of Remediating Email-Based Cyberattacks as Costs Average $1 Million

With the average cost of the most expensive successful email attack at over $1 million, it’s necessary to begin to zero in on where the material sources of risk exist to keep these attacks from succeeding.

When we start talking about costs in terms of $1 million dollars, I think we’re all ready to pay attention and want to determine exactly what’s causing attacks to cost so much. According to Barracuda’s new 2023 Email Security Trends report, one substantial source of costs is remote users.

According to the report, the average cost of the most expensive successful email-based cyberattacks is $1,033,066. This number ranges from just above $500,000 to just over $1.5 million, depending on the industry.

But when you look at the attack impact costs based on an organization's investment in a remote workforce, a pattern begins to emerge. As shown below, the difference in cost between organizations with 50% remote workers or less and those with above 50% is just over a half million dollars.

Source: Barracuda

Now, that isn’t to say that remote workers are bad – they aren’t. But they might not be paying proper attention to cyber hygiene, the need for cyber vigilance at all times, and their place in the organization’s cybersecurity strategy – all things taught with proper continual Security Awareness Training.

These attacks are only going to continue, and with such high costs to remediate at attack, minimizing that cost by reducing the risk of attack via your remote workforce is a solid investment.