Charlotte, North Carolina Named The Third Most Insecure City

Coronet’s Most Insecure Metros Report

In 2018, Coronet released a report ranking America’s Most Insecure Metros. In this report, Charlotte ranked the third most vulnerable to cyber threats. Since then, Coronet has completed a second report where Charlotte slightly improved to the 13th most insecure city in America. While this is an improvement it is far from what Charlotte is capable of ranking.

To complete this study Coronet’s methodology involved collecting and analyzing data from:

• One million endpoints across every operating system
• 24 million networks which were both public and private
• 320,000 SaaS accounts (like Salesforce, Dropbox, and others)
• 270,000 Gmail and Office 365 email accounts

The data was collected through Coronet mitigating security events. These events included:

• Malicious Wi-Fi and cellular networks
• Misconfigured or vulnerable endpoints
• Bot attacks, phishing, malware, and ransomware both in cloud services as well as in emails.

The data was then evaluated and ranked by existing vulnerabilities and potential damage that could be caused by attackers in the 50 most populated metro areas. This resulted in Charlotte being ranked 3rd most insecure then to 13th.

Phishing and Social Engineering Attacks

One of the most common cybersecurity threats that are seen today is phishing and social engineering attacks. These types of attacks are designed to trick users into divulging sensitive information, such as login credentials or credit card information.

Charlotte has experienced multiple high-profile phishing attacks in recent years. In 2019, Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools fell victim to a phishing scam that resulted in the theft of around $30,000. The criminals were able to gain access to the school system’s email and tricked employees into sending them money.

Small Business Statistics

According to the 2020 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report, 28% of data breaches involved small businesses. This is the highest percentage out of all business sizes. Meaning that small businesses are a significant target for cybercriminals and are not immune to cybersecurity threats. Additionally, a survey conducted by the National Cyber Security Alliance found that 88% of small businesses believe they are not a target for cyber attacks due to being too small and insignificant. This leaves them even more vulnerable as they have fewer resources and less robust cybersecurity measures in place compared to larger organizations. It’s important for small businesses to understand the risks they face and take proactive measures to protect themselves against cyber threats. 

According to a report by the National Cyber Security Alliance, 60% of small businesses go out of business within six months of experiencing a cyber attack. This includes the costs such as legal fees, lost revenue, and damage to reputation, forcing many to close their doors for good.

Moreover, a study by the Ponemon Institute found that the average cost of a data breach for a small business is $3.86 million. This is a high cost that the majority of small businesses don’t have budgeted.

Factors Contributing to Cybersecurity Threats in Charlotte, NC

There are several factors contributing to the cybersecurity threats faced by Charlotte. One major factor is the rapid growth of technology. As more businesses and organizations rely on technology to conduct their operations, the risk of cyber-attacks increases.

Another factor is inadequate cybersecurity measures. Many businesses and organizations do not have the proper resources or expertise to implement effective cybersecurity measures, leaving them vulnerable to attack. See how PivIT Strategy can implement solutions best suited for your individual company.