Half of Flemish companies had to deal with a cyberattack in 2024
Last year, 45.8% of all Flemish businesses fell victim to a cyberattack, a study of the Flemish Agency for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (VLAIO) shows.
More and more companies in Flanders, Belgium, are being targeted by hackers. In 2023, only one in ten businesses was affected. Last year, almost 46% of the 2,270 companies that participated in a study were affected by a cyberattack. That’s a fivefold increase in a timespan of just one year.
The VLAIO study also shows that one in ten attacks is successful, meaning that an online shop is taken offline or sensitive corporate data has been exfiltrated.
Patrick Hauspie, cybersecurity expert at the VLAIO, thinks this estimate is optimistic. According to him, the real number of victims is around 70%. Many companies are still ashamed to admit they’ve been struck by a cyberattack, and this isn't shown in the official numbers.
Hauspie thinks the increase is the result of several things. “For example, more and more companies are digitizing or using digital services. However, some make that transition quickly and thoughtlessly, without paying attention to their IT security. That makes it easy for hackers,” he tells Flemish news outlet VRT NWS.
In addition, hackers have been able to lay their hands on email addresses, phone numbers, and passwords of employees via the dark web. Attackers also succeed in capturing login credentials and personal information using phishing tactics. Therefore, companies should involve their personnel when increasing their cybersecurity.
Matthias Diependaele (N-VA), Flemish Minister of Innovation and Digitalization, says that he’s shocked by the high number of victims and promises that he’ll keep monitoring the situation. However, he notices that more and more companies are trying to make their business more resilient against cyberattacks.
The Flemish government is helping those businesses by reimbursing 50% of these costs. According to Hauspie, investing a few thousand euros can make all the difference. “The major challenge, however, lies in making Flemish entrepreneurs aware that there are indeed dangers,” he states.