Verizon Business Releases 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report: Alarming Trends in the Asia-Pacific Region
Verizon Business has unveiled its 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR), drawing attention to a significant rise in system intrusions within the Asia-Pacific region. The report indicates that a staggering four out of five data breaches in this area have resulted from such attacks, a sharp increase from the 38% recorded the previous year. This alarming trend underscores the increasingly concentrated cyber threat landscape in the region, where 97% of breaches can be traced back to three primary methods: system intrusion, social engineering, and basic web application attacks.
The 2025 DBIR is the 18th edition of this comprehensive report, which meticulously analyzed over 22,000 security incidents, including 12,195 verified data breaches spanning 139 countries. The report highlights a sharp uptick in malware incidents, which surged from 58% last year to 83% this year. Notably, ransomware accounted for 51% of the reported breaches, signifying a troubling escalation in cybercriminal activities.
Robert Le Busque, Regional Vice President for Verizon Business in Asia Pacific, emphasized the report’s findings, stating that the growing complexity of cyber threats poses substantial challenges for organizations worldwide. He noted that external actors are increasingly targeting critical infrastructure while exploiting vulnerabilities in third-party systems. The spike in data breaches necessitates a reassessment of risk frameworks by businesses operating in this environment.
Among the key insights for the Asia-Pacific region, the report reveals that social engineering breaches, while declining in absolute numbers since 2021, still constitute 20% of all breaches in 2025. This decline is partly attributed to the rapid rise in system intrusion cases, whose increasing prevalence outpaces the decline in social engineering incidents. Furthermore, as malware-related breaches have soared, primarily distributed via email, organizations must remain vigilant in their cybersecurity practices.
On a global scale, the report notes a 34% increase in exploitation of vulnerabilities, with a marked emphasis on zero-day exploits that target perimeter devices and VPNs. Globally, ransomware attacks have risen by 37%, now impacting 44% of breaches, even as average ransom payments have notably declined. Moreover, breaches involving third-party vendors have doubled, signaling the heightened risks associated with interconnected supply chains.
Notably, the report underscores the critical role of human involvement in breaches, particularly the overlaps between social engineering tactics and credential abuse. This human element plays a significant part in successful cyberattacks, reflecting the need for enhanced training and awareness among employees.
Sector-specific threats are also highlighted, with an alarming increase in espionage-driven attacks targeting the Manufacturing and Healthcare industries. Similarly, the Education, Financial Services, and Retail sectors remain under constant threat. The disproportionate impact of ransomware on small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) is particularly concerning, with many now facing median ransom payments reaching $115,000.
Craig Robinson, Research Vice President for Security Services at IDC, commented on the mixed outcomes highlighted in the report. While a greater number of organizations—64%—opted not to pay ransoms this year, a stark reality persists for many SMBs, 88% of whose breaches involved ransomware. This disparity reinforces the necessity for a robust cybersecurity posture, particularly for smaller enterprises lacking the resources available to larger organizations.
In closing, Verizon’s commitment to educating the public about the motives, tactics, and techniques of cyber adversaries plays a vital role in enhancing global awareness and preparedness. As the threat landscape continues to evolve, it is essential for businesses to adopt a proactive and comprehensive approach to cybersecurity to safeguard their assets and ensure long-term success in an increasingly digitized world.
