The Skybox Security Vulnerability and Threat Trends Report 2021 uncovered a 106% increase globally in new malware driven by a combination of the Coronavirus pandemic and expanding attack surfaces.

Skybox Security’s Vulnerability and Threat Trends Report 2021 headline findings include:

1. New ransomware samples increased 106% year-on-year. Trojans increased 128%, with threat actors using Trojans to exploit lower-severity vulnerabilities. Sophisticated, multi-staged attacks and malware-as-a-service have become the norm

2. Skybox Research Lab reported 18,341 new vulnerabilities in 2020. To stay ahead of attacks, security and risk leaders need sophisticated insights into which vulnerabilities are high-risk and remediation options for all assets, including non-patching options

3. Critical infrastructure has never been more vulnerable: Operational Technology (OT) vulnerabilities increased 30% year-on-year. To identify and remediate critical attack vectors ahead of incidents, security programs need to evolve. Security posture management must expand from IT to OT environments

4. Industry 4.0 spreads supply chain risks: Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) flaws increased 308% year-over-year. A single IIoT device frequently ships with parts from dozens of manufacturers, lacking supply chain transparency. Companies must consider modeling, risk and attack vectors across organisational boundaries to address convergence between different networked environments