About (6 in 10) 57% of the enterprise malware analysts have reportedly investigated or tackled a data breach that was never disclosed by their employer, according to a new report.

ThreatTrack Security’s latest report outlined that the cybersecurity challenges within US enterprises are on the rise.

During 2012, there were 621 confirmed data breaches, which had been considered to be underreported, leaving enterprises’ consumers and data-sharing partners ignorant of security risks connected to loss of personal or proprietary data, according to Verizon’s 2013 Data Breach Investigations Report.

In addition, firms with over 500 employees are most probable to have had an unreported breach, with 66% of analysts reporting undisclosed data breaches.

ThreatTrack CEO Julian Waits said while it is discouraging that so many malware analysts are aware of data breaches that enterprises have not disclosed, it is no surprise that the breaches are occurring.

"Every day, malware becomes more sophisticated, and US enterprises are constantly targeted for cyber espionage campaigns from overseas competitors and foreign governments," Waits said.

"This study reveals that malware analysts are acutely aware of the threats they face, and while many of them report progress in their ability to combat cyber-attacks, they also point out deficiencies in resources and tools."

According to 40% of surveyed enterprises do not have enough highly-skilled security personnel on staff, which is one of the most complex features of protecting their organisation’s network

Malware analysts revealed that about 40% of their devices used by their executives were infected with malware due to visit to a pornographic website, 56% when clicking on a malicious link in a phishing email, 45% when letting a family member to use a company-owned device and 33% during installation of malicious mobile app.

About 67% of surveyed identified the complexity of ma as the most difficult aspects of defending their firms’ networks from advanced malware, while 67% of them cited the volume of malware attacks, and 58% of them citing incompetence of anti-malware technologies, highlighting the basic significance of a multi-layered, advanced cyber defence.

Over half of analysts reported it would take over two hours to examine a new malware sample, while 4% of them were reportedly capable of studying a new malware sample within an hour.

About 35% of the respondents cited lack of access to an automated malware analysis solution as the most complex aspects of protecting their enterprise from latest malware.

US topped the list of country with most skilled at carrying out cyber espionage, followed by China with 33%.