A global identity crisis

The annual Threat Intelligence Index produced by IBM X-Force is based on insights and observations from monitoring more than 150 billion security events per day across more than 130 countries. 

In addition, data is gathered and analysed from multiple sources within IBM, including IBM X-Force Threat Intelligence, Incident Response, X-Force Red, IBM Managed Security Services. Figures provided by Red Hat Insights and Intezer also contributed to the 2024 report.

This year’s index highlights an emerging global identity crisis as cybercriminals double down on exploiting user identities to compromise enterprises worldwide.

Across the board, bad actors saw more opportunities to “log in” as opposed to hacking into corporate networks through valid accounts – making this tactic a preferred weapon of choice.

 “While security fundamentals don’t turn as many heads as AI-engineered attacks’, it remains that enterprises’ biggest security problem boils down to the basic and known – not the novel and unknown,” explains Charles Henderson, Global Managing Partner at IBM Consulting and Head of IBM X-Force. 

“Identity is being used against enterprises time and time again, a problem that will worsen as adversaries invest in AI to optimise the tactic.”