In 2020, the average cost for a data breach was highest for state-sponsored breaches. Data breaches caused by nation states amounted to an average of 4.43 million U.S. dollars, ahead of data breaches by hacktivists or financially motivated breaches. Nation states accounted for 13 percent of malicious data breaches in 2020.
Costliest threat actors in malicious data breaches worldwide in 2020, by average cost
(in million U.S. dollars)
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.
Learn more about how Statista can support your business.
Cyber Defense Magazine, & Ponemon Institute. (August 5, 2020). Costliest threat actors in malicious data breaches worldwide in 2020, by average cost (in million U.S. dollars) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved January 21, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/329647/external-actor-motives-within-web-app-attacks/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed
Cyber Defense Magazine, und Ponemon Institute. "Costliest threat actors in malicious data breaches worldwide in 2020, by average cost (in million U.S. dollars)." Chart. August 5, 2020. Statista. Accessed January 21, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/329647/external-actor-motives-within-web-app-attacks/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed
Cyber Defense Magazine, Ponemon Institute. (2020). Costliest threat actors in malicious data breaches worldwide in 2020, by average cost (in million U.S. dollars). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: January 21, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/329647/external-actor-motives-within-web-app-attacks/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed
Cyber Defense Magazine, and Ponemon Institute. "Costliest Threat Actors in Malicious Data Breaches Worldwide in 2020, by Average Cost (in Million U.S. Dollars)." Statista, Statista Inc., 5 Aug 2020, https://www.statista.com/statistics/329647/external-actor-motives-within-web-app-attacks/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed
Cyber Defense Magazine & Ponemon Institute, Costliest threat actors in malicious data breaches worldwide in 2020, by average cost (in million U.S. dollars) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/329647/external-actor-motives-within-web-app-attacks/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed (last visited January 21, 2025)
Costliest threat actors in malicious data breaches worldwide in 2020, by average cost (in million U.S. dollars) [Graph], Cyber Defense Magazine, & Ponemon Institute, August 5, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/329647/external-actor-motives-within-web-app-attacks/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed
