There are millions of cyber-attacks taking place every day with a total cost to the global economy of up to $575 billion a year. .
Data breaches will carry on, however, given the effectiveness of malicious programmes like ransomware and recent events such as the Ashley Madison hack which proved devastating for business, 2016 seems likely to be the year we see an explosion in online extortion, be it for financial, political or moral reasons.

Companies therefore need to make plans based on not if, but when, they will be attacked.