Cybersecurity vulnerabilities continue to pose significant risks to major corporations, with 96% of S&P 500 companies experiencing data breaches, according to the latest findings from the Cybernews Business Digital Index. The report highlights security gaps across industries, exposing weaknesses in encryption, software patching, and system hosting. The analysis identifies key vulnerabilities in software patching, SSL configurations, and system hosting, with Manufacturing, Finance and Insurance, and Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals ranking among the most affected sectors.
The Cybernews Business Digital Index assesses the security infrastructure of organisations globally, utilising data from sources such as Internet of Things (IoT) search engines, IP and domain reputation databases, and custom security scans. The latest assessment examined 485 S&P 500 companies, excluding 15 due to insufficient data. The study measured risk exposure across seven cybersecurity categories. These include software patching, web application security, email security, system reputation, SSL configuration, system hosting, and data breach history.
Findings show that only 6.19% of companies earned an A rating for cybersecurity, while 48.66% were rated D, and 40.41% received an F, reflecting widespread security deficiencies.
Industry-specific cybersecurity challenges
Manufacturing companies exhibited the highest proportion of low security ratings, with 52.9% receiving an F and 39.86% a D. In the Finance and Insurance sector, 72.46% of companies were rated D, while 21.74% received an F. Technology and IT firms had the highest percentage of A ratings at 12.9%, but 38.71% were rated F, and 41.94% received a D.
Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals also showed notable security concerns, with 52.38% of companies scoring a D and 38.1% receiving an F. In the Real Estate and Development sector, 4% of companies earned an A, while 48% were rated F.
The study identified SSL configuration issues as the most widespread security concern, affecting 97.73% of companies. System hosting vulnerabilities were recorded in 88.45% of cases, while 80.62% of companies exhibited web application security flaws. Software patching deficiencies were found in 53.81% of organisations.
Data breaches impacted 96.08% of companies. Additionally, 29.07% had email security issues and 15.88% recorded system reputation vulnerabilities.
The report highlighted concerns regarding employee password practices, identifying credential reuse as a major risk factor. In the Energy and Natural Resources sector, 66% of employees reused previously compromised passwords. The Finance and Insurance sector followed closely, with a reuse rate of 62%.
Technology and IT companies recorded the lowest password reuse rate at 30.6%, a figure linked to stronger security policies and employee training. The reuse of compromised credentials was identified as a potential entry point for cyberattacks, increasing corporate exposure to unauthorised system access.
The Cybernews report highlights security vulnerabilities across industries, with weaknesses in data protection, encryption, and system management creating challenges in securing digital infrastructure. As per the report, strengthening software patching protocols, improving encryption standards, and enforcing credential security is critical for mitigating risks and reducing exposure to data breaches and unauthorised access.
Read more: 65% of employees bypass cybersecurity policies, driven by hybrid work and flexible access
