The average cost per data breach is now $3.62 million worldwide, marking a 10% drop from the $4 million average cost-per-breach in 2016. This marks the first time data breach cost has decreased overall since IBM created its Cost of Data Breach report, which was published June 20. The good news, unfortunately, doesn’t apply to everyone: cost increased 5% in the US during the same timeframe that it dropped 26% in Europe.
The study, conducted by the Ponemon Institute, included 419 companies in 11 countries and two geographical regions (the Middle East and ASEAN) around the world. A strong US dollar influenced the global cost analysis and contributed to the decline, according to the report.