Cyprus remains among the least affected EU countries by ICT security incidents, a testament to its relatively resilient digital economy. According to the latest data from Eurostat, only 12.91 per cent of Cypriot enterprises reported experiencing incidents with significant repercussions in 2024. This figure is notably lower than the EU average of 21.5 per cent.
- Conversely, sectors such as construction, retail, and transport and storage faced fewer incidents, highlighting varying levels of digital risk across different industries.
In 2023, the European Union saw 21.5 per cent of enterprises facing ICT security incidents that resulted in issues like service disruptions, data corruption, or the leakage of sensitive information. This growing trend highlights the increasing exposure of businesses across Europe to digital threats and data vulnerabilities.
Among the EU nations, Finland topped the list with a staggering 42.2 per cent of enterprises reporting such incidents. Other countries with high rates included Poland (32.5 per cent), Malta (28.7 per cent), Sweden (20.4 per cent), and Denmark (19 per cent). These statistics illustrate a correlation between digital advancement and susceptibility to cyber risks, as these nations are among Europe’s most digitally progressive economies.
On the other end of the spectrum, Austria (11.5 per cent), Slovenia (11.6 per cent), and Bulgaria (12.1 per cent) also reported low incidents, alongside Cyprus. The only country in the broader European dataset with a lower rate was Bosnia and Herzegovina, which recorded just 6.51 per cent.
Cyprus’ figure of 12.91 per cent places it in a group of countries with lower incidences of ICT-related disruptions, alongside Greece (15.5 per cent), Serbia (12 per cent), and Italy (15.7 per cent). This suggests that Southern Europe experiences a relatively modest level of ICT-related disturbances, largely due to the lower digital intensity among small and medium-sized enterprises in the region compared to their northern counterparts.
When examining sector-specific data, the highest rates of incidents in 2023 were seen in the electricity, gas, steam, and air-conditioning supply sector, where 28.8 per cent of enterprises were affected. This was closely followed by the information and communication sector at 27.9 per cent, and professional, scientific, and technical activities at 26.8 per cent. Other sectors like real estate activities and water supply, sewerage, waste management, and remediation also reported significant figures, at 25 per cent and 24.1 per cent, respectively.
Conversely, sectors such as construction, retail, and transport and storage faced fewer incidents, highlighting varying levels of digital risk across different industries.
