65% of the Population Feels Insecure Against Emerging Cyber Risks
Industry leaders emphasize the vital role of education and cybersecurity awareness while pointing out the necessity for expanding and diversifying cyber insurance coverage.
Rapid digital transformation and the widespread adoption of remote work—accelerated by Covid-19—swiftly reshaped organizational life in Turkey and globally. Surveys indicate that up to 80% of enterprises worldwide shifted to remote or hybrid work environments, with the figure reaching 90% in knowledge-based sectors.
Transferring substantial enterprise workloads to digital channels has brought cyber vulnerabilities to the forefront, stoking heightened anxiety. Sharing findings from recent market research, Ray Sigorta General Manager Koray Erdoğan revealed that 65% of internet users feel insecure regarding potential cyber risks. Erdoğan continued:
AWARENESS AND EDUCATION
“Furthermore, 73% of survey respondents believe that cyber risks have amplified with the rise of telecommuting. Conversely, 86% of cyber insurance policyholders express strong confidence that insurance provides crucial protection. As an industry, we must educate the public on these pervasive risks and increase the market penetration of cybersecurity safeguards and coverage.”
Highlighting the acute need for digital hygiene, Aksigorta General Manager Uğur Gülen noted: “As a society, our awareness of digital risk remains critically low. Through the Digital Security Platform, we offer complimentary training resources tailored to SMEs and individual citizens. Initiatives like this empower businesses to safeguard their digital assets against future risks.” Doğa Sigorta CEO Nihat Kırmızı reiterated that 71% of cyberattacks targeting Turkey strike SMEs and commercial enterprises, adding: “Commercial organizations must comprehensively protect themselves against cyberattacks.”
RANSOMWARE THREATS
Addressing the operational threat, Platin Bilişim Cybersecurity Technology Director Furkan Batman noted that cyberattacks targeting the insurance sector alone jumped 30% over a three-month span. Batman urged insurers—who have become prime targets for cyber extortion rings—to reinforce immutable backup systems and anti-ransomware defenses.
2021 REGARDED AS A REBOUND AND RECOVERY YEAR
KPMG Turkey analyzed industry projections in a comprehensive report titled “Perspective on the Insurance Industry.” The report outlined that 2021 represented a “strong rebound and recovery” year following initial pandemic shocks.
Ali Tuğrul Uzun, Insurance Practice Leader at KPMG Turkey, noted that non-life segments supported an industry exceeding 300 billion TL in total assets, while cautioning that lingering pandemic ripple effects, escalated IT investments, and fierce market competition could generate volatility across operational profitability.
