Leading risks to SMEs and large companies worldwide in 2024

For 2024, cyber incidents were a leading business risk to companies of all sizes globally according to risk management experts worldwide. Some industries are more prone to cyberattacks than others. For instance, manufacturing was the most targeted industry globally by ransomware incidents in 2023. Meanwhile, the number of cyber incidents in the financial sector increased in recent years.

How does cybercrime jeopardize businesses?

Cyber incidents pose a multitude of risks to businesses across various aspects. Financially, they can result in direct losses through theft, ransom payments, or disruptions in operations, which affect revenue streams and stability. Between 2001 and 2023, the monetary damage from cybercrime in the United States rose from 17.8 million U.S. dollars to a staggering 12.5 billion dollars.

What challenges do businesses face due to inflation?

Inflation poses numerous challenges to organizations, affecting consumer spending, interest rates, driving up operational expenses, and creating uncertainty in strategic planning. Rising prices frequently result in increased costs for raw materials and wages, thereby reducing profit margins. Throughout much of the 2010s, inflation was consistently low, especially between 2013 and 2020, when it fluctuated between 2.7 and 3.6 percent. However, the annual global inflation rate peaked in 2022, at 8.71 percent, and is expected to decline in the following years. This heightened inflation was a sign that the global economy was undergoing a period of great uncertainty, which made it more expensive to do business.