Verizon’s 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report says ransomware was present in 44% of all breaches reviewed, up from 32% in the prior dataset. The same SMB snapshot reports a disproportionate ransomware impact on smaller organisations. This reinforces the value of endpoint protection, reduced exposure, maintained updates and tested recovery.
Source: Verizon 2025 DBIR SMB SnapshotCYBER RISK INTELLIGENCE
The threat landscape rewards preparation.
CSAEC — Independent 2025 research shows why endpoint visibility, patching, recovery and disciplined cyber governance matter to organisations of every size.
EVIDENCE, NOT FEAR
Current data places preventable weaknesses in context.
These statistics describe broad incident datasets and should not be interpreted as a forecast for one customer or as proof that CSAEC prevents a particular loss. They help explain why organisations benefit from understanding exposed services, vulnerabilities, endpoint controls, backups and recovery readiness before an incident creates operational pressure.
Verizon reports that exploitation of vulnerabilities reached 20% of known initial-access vectors in relevant 2025 breach data, increasing 34% year over year. Only about 54% of analysed edge-device vulnerabilities were fully remediated during the year, with a reported median remediation time of 32 days.
Source: Verizon 2025 DBIR SMB SnapshotENISA’s Threat Landscape 2025 examined 4,875 incidents from July 2024 through June 2025. ENISA identifies ransomware as the most impactful threat in the European Union and describes continued exploitation of vulnerabilities and converging threat techniques. The finding supports a repeatable, layered approach rather than reliance on one defensive product.
Source: ENISA Threat Landscape 2025IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach Report 2025 reports a global average breach cost of USD 4.44 million, down 9% from the previous year. This is a global cross-organisation average, not an expected loss for an individual SME. IBM associates faster identification and containment with lower overall cost.
Source: IBM Cost of a Data Breach 2025IBM reports USD 1.9 million in average cost savings for organisations with extensive use of AI and automation in security compared with organisations that did not use those solutions. This finding concerns the study population and does not represent a guaranteed saving or specific ROI from the local CSAEC assistant.
Source: IBM Cost of a Data Breach 2025IBM reports that 97% of organisations in its study that experienced an AI-related security incident lacked appropriate AI access controls. This is why CSAEC positions local AI as a controlled explanatory aid: on-device processing can reduce cloud dependency, but governance, authorised use and human review remain necessary.
Source: IBM Cost of a Data Breach 2025FROM RESEARCH TO ACTION
What these findings mean for an endpoint review.
Visibility must lead to prioritisation
Growing exploitation of vulnerabilities makes it important to identify reachable services, confirm versions and apply vendor-supported remediation. CSAEC provides preliminary indicators; technical validation, asset ownership and change control determine the correct response.
Recovery deserves equal attention
Endpoint protection can reduce malicious activity, while protected backups and tested restoration support recovery. A configured backup is not enough. Organisations need evidence that critical information can be restored within a timeframe that the business can tolerate.
Smaller does not mean invisible
Attackers can automate scanning, credential abuse and exploitation across many targets. Smaller organisations often have fewer specialised resources, so a consistent baseline and clear escalation path can be especially valuable for allocating limited time and budget.
Tools support, people govern
Security findings need context: which service is necessary, which data is accessible, what downtime is acceptable and who approves change. CSAEC turns selected indicators into a structured conversation but does not replace accountability or professional judgement.
Use AI with a defined boundary
The integrated model works locally without connecting to an Internet AI service. This can limit automatic disclosure and avoid a cloud AI subscription, while still requiring access control, acceptable-use rules and verification of every generated recommendation.
Track improvement, not just scores
Useful measures include validated findings, approved remediation, successful rechecks, restoration tests and time to close material gaps. The goal is a stronger process and better evidence, not a cosmetic increase in a single number.
RESEARCH NOTE
External statistics are context, not a product performance claim.
CSAEC has not been represented as causing the savings or outcomes reported by Verizon, ENISA or IBM. Results depend on the organisation, its systems, threat exposure, existing controls and follow-up action. Sources were reviewed and the website was updated in 2026.