Ooma’s new infographic shows that data breaches are a huge concern and much more common than we would like to think. Their new graphic offers 30 statistic-based facts that show us the harsh reality. Companies have limited time to react to data breaches before they hit the news cycle, and software developers have to stay on their toes to prevent security threats. Data breaches hand over customer contact details, proprietary software, and employee information to bad actors, so taking these threats seriously is of the utmost importance.

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Record High Levels of Financial Damage

The financial stakes of data breaches have never been higher. The data shows that in 2024, the average global cost of a data breach reached an all-time high of $4.88 million, a 10% increase. On average, American organizations bear the highest costs, at $9.36 million per breach. The U.S. healthcare industry is hit the hardest, with average data breach costs around $9.77 million.

Mega breaches incur the highest costs and the most damage. A mega breach involves over a million records and costs an enormous $375 million to rectify. The largest data breach was the Change Healthcare attack in February 2024, which exposed 190 million medical records and caused over $2 billion in damages. This was the largest medical data breach in American history.

Human Error Leads to Cyberattacks

55% of all data breaches are malicious attacks, with the remaining attacks split between human error and system failures. This shows that nearly half of breaches are due to internal vulnerabilities instead of being caused by the power of a sophisticated external attack. Out of all applications, Microsoft Office suffers 69.1% of cyberattacks, which means that everyday office tools can become a major target, taking advantage of employee vulnerability.

When someone inside an organization leads the attack, the expenses are highest, averaging $4.99 million. Ransomware is still a big danger, with the costs of attacks increasing by 500% between 2023 and 2024 and the average recovery cost around $2.73 million.

Delays in Detection and Containment

The amount of time it takes for organizations to detect a data breach is a bit shocking. It takes an average of 204 days to discover the breach and then another 73 days to contain it. That’s a nearly 10-month data exposure window. Most distressing is the fact that personal data breaches take the longest to detect and contain – an average of 292 days.

Recovery and Data Breach Prevention

The aftermath of a data breach remains a big challenge. Only 12% of businesses report making a full financial recovery after the breach. 70% of breached organizations have significant disruptions to business, and only 1% describe the breach as low-impact. Healthcare businesses have the longest-lasting effects with major damage to their reputation. They need to spend 79% more on marketing for the two years following a data breach. Strategic investments in cybersecurity offer stronger protection, and using AI in security operations can save around $2.2 million. Overall, this graphic emphasizes the importance of investing in strong cybersecurity.

Ooma’s new study gives crucial insight into small business ownership with a map and analysis comparing average yearly salaries in every state and Washington, D.C. The study offers key insights into the world of entrepreneurship today. They used data from ZipRecruiter to create a map that systematically compares wages across the country. The team also shows that the national average annual wage across industries is $66,621, providing invaluable context for the listed salaries.

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The maps contain geographic insight into earning potential. We see Washington state in the lead with small business owners earning an impressive $144,941 a year on average. That’s an incredible 127.2% higher than the national average salaries. The team points out that the Pacific Northwest is a small business hotspot for a reason. Seattle and the Puget Sound area are hubs for innovation and technology, supported by helpful infrastructure for small businesses, plentiful coworking space, and fresh talent setting out on their own after building experience with huge companies like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon. These factors have created an environment where small businesses can not only survive but thrive thanks to low business taxes and a talented pool of entrepreneurs and employees.

The data shows that 15 states and Washington, D.C., have earning averages that are double the national average. Washington, D.C., came in second place for small business owner wages at $144,612. It’s another technology hub that enjoys the benefits of being the nation’s capital, with access to government incentives and programs that can help entrepreneurs get their ideas off the ground.

The team’s analysis didn’t look away from more challenging regions. Florida had the lowest annual salary at $95,633 a year, though, as we can see, small business owners in Florida still earn more than the national wage average. Florida is a competitive market driven by tourism, yet small business ownership is still a lucrative option here. Ooma explains that Florida business owners do face unique challenges, like a tourism market that ebbs and flows with economic changes, fewer benefits for business owners, and a high concentration of small businesses.

Apart from the pure data, we can find lots of interesting context that helps us understand regional business climates. Cost of living and market dynamics influence how much entrepreneurs can earn, and we can see facts like this visualized in the colorful map the team created. Data that could be complex becomes easy to digest and quick to reference.

Ooma did an excellent job transforming data into geographic insights that can offer people practical small business guidance. Aspiring entrepreneurs can use the data here to launch a new idea, relocate or expand successfully, while industry observers can learn new things about the small business climate. Rigorous data, practical insights, and smooth visuals combine to create an enjoyable and practical presentation of small business owner wage data.

With the high cost of college tuition making headlines, choosing a college major wisely becomes a crucial financial decision. Student Choice has analyzed college majors by their return on investment (ROI) and created a graph that ranks degrees by their ROI. Passion is certainly an important factor in choosing a college major, but knowing the ROI of a major helps prospective students plan for their future and understand their future financial prospects. This graph is a powerful tool for navigating a competitive job market.

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We can see STEM dominating the results, with an Engineering degree claiming the highest ROI at 326.6%. Computer Science earns second place with a 310.3% ROI, and Nursing has a 280.9% ROI. Student Choice gathered its data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and compared five-year earnings to the cost of four years of college tuition. Unfortunately, Liberal Arts subjects are at the bottom of the list, although they still show a positive ROI. Education majors have a 169.8% ROI and Fine Arts have the lowest ROI at 163.3%.

The team also provided data on individual professions for which these majors qualify. The highest-paid engineers appear to be Aerospace engineers, with a whopping 427% ROI on their engineering degrees. Computer and IT Systems Managers with a degree in Computer Science have an even greater ROI, at 553.7%. Although Liberal Arts degrees have the lowest ROIs, there are still significant opportunities available in specific arts-related professions. For example, marketing managers can achieve a 511.4% ROI and earn degrees in Liberal Arts, Fine Arts, or Graphic Design to qualify. Art Directors show strong earning potential within the creative sector, with a 347.9% ROI.

Some might look at this data and conclude that they can aim for some of these careers without a four-year degree. Others might research how much more they would earn in the career path with a four-year degree. Many employers are willing to pay higher salaries to employees with higher levels of education. Some sectors offer student loan forgiveness options, which can help maximize ROI. There’s a public education loan forgiveness program that forgives student loans for teachers who work in low-income school districts for a certain length of time. Borrowers may find more flexible loan solutions from credit unions compared to federal loan systems as well. Data like this is key to helping prospective students plan for the future and achieve the best ROI.

While the data is useful and well-presented, all prospective students should consider several angles when making an important decision, like which major to declare. In addition to ROI, consider your personal instincts, financial circumstances, skills, and potential career satisfaction. While financial security is important and a strong ROI will help you secure it, job satisfaction is an important aspect of future happiness. Even so, Student Choice’s work here can help all prospective students plan for their financial future.