Data breaches, leaks, ransomware attacks, digital extortion, and state-sponsored attacks continued to be a persistent concern throughout the year, impacting both the public and private sectors. Several significant cybersecurity incidents marked the year, raising questions about data security practices and the vulnerability of interconnected systems.

One notable trend involved attacks targeting third-party integrations with major platforms. For example, the sales management giant Salesforce experienced data breaches, not through a direct compromise of its own systems, but through vulnerabilities in its third-party contractor integrations, including those of Gainsight and Salesloft. Google's Threat Intelligence Group reported in August that some Google Workspace data was compromised as part of a breach affecting the sales and marketing platform Drift, which integrates with Salesloft. While not a direct hack of Google Workspace, the incident highlighted the risks associated with interconnected digital ecosystems.

These incidents underscore the increasing complexity of cybersecurity threats and the challenges of securing data across multiple platforms and vendors. Security experts recommend that organizations conduct thorough risk assessments of their third-party vendors and implement robust security measures to protect against potential breaches. The incidents also prompted discussions among policymakers about the need for stronger regulations and oversight of data security practices, particularly for companies that handle sensitive consumer information.